Tokushima Castle

History

In 1385, Hosokawa Yoriyuki built Inoyama Castle on the present site of Tokushima Castle. After Toyotomi forces conquered Shikoku, Hachisuka Iemasa was appointed the lord of Awa Province (present day Tokushima Prefecture.) Initially, Hachisuka Iemasa based his headquarters at Ichinomiya Castle. However, it turned out to be a rather inconvenient location to govern Awa, so he moved to Tokushima Castle in 1585. The existing fortifications were enlarged and improved.

The castle is located in the heart of Tokushima City, on a 62m hill called Inoyama. The castle is a renkaku-style hilltop castle with a Honmaru (Main Bailey), Higashi Ninomaru (Eastern Second Bailey), Nishi Ninomaru (Western Second Bailey), and Nishi Sannomaru (Western Third Bailey) located up on the hill with additional baileys: Nishinomaru Yashiki, Baba, Goten, and Miki Bailey at the base of the hill. Initially, a castle keep was built in the Honmaru at the top of the hill, but it was pulled down and a new three-storey castle keep without the usual stonewall foundation (tenshudai) was built in the Higashi Ninomaru in the early Edo Period. The castle lasted eight years into the Meiji Period before it was demolished in 1875. Only the Washimon (Washi Gate) in the Miki Bailey survived, but it was destroyed during a WWII air raid in July 1945. The current Washimon was rebuilt in 1989 to mark the centenary of Tokushima City.

Visit Notes

This castle is definitely one of those top cherry blossoms spots in Tokushima. It is around 10 minutes walk from JR Tokushima Station and the Highway Bus Terminal.

Photos and profile by JCastle user RaymondW.

Gallery

Honmaru ishigaki and path up from Nishi Ninomaru
View of the Site of the Taiko Yagura
Otemon Ruin and Geshoubashi
Site of the Tsukimi Yagura and a water moat
Washimon gate
Site of the Byoubu Yagura
Sukiya Bridge
Honmaru bailey
Honmaru ishigaki and path up from Higashi Ninomaru
Higashi Ninomaru
Nishi Ninomaru
Tobari Yagura Ruin
Stone walls next to the site of Nishi Sannomaru Gate
Stone walls at the Nishi Sannomaru Gate Site
Looking up at Nishi Sannomaru Gate Site
Stone walls at the base of the hill near the site of Sannoguchi gate
Stone walls around the Tobari Yagura
View of Inoyama and site of Tokushima Castle
Map

Castle Profile
English Name	Tokushima Castle
Japanese Name	徳島城
Alternate Names	Inoyama Castle, Itsu Castle
Founder	Hosokawa Yoriyuki
Year Founded	1385
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	National Historic Site, Top 100 Castles
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Tokushima Sta. (Tokushima Line) or Highway Bus, 10 min walk
Visitor Information	Tokushima Castle Museum 9:30 to 5:00. Closed on Mondays and days following public holidays. The castle ruins / castle park is open 24/7.
Time Required	2 hours
Website	http://www.city.tokushima.tokushima.jp/johaku/index.shtml
Location	Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture, Tokushima Prefecture
Coordinates	34° 4' 30.78" N, 134° 33' 19.08" E
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ARTShogun

91 months ago

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The lower baileys are surrounded by a moat and very appealing stone walls of the flatland type (an earthen embankment was first piled up then encased in stone), whereas the upper baileys have their natural elevation covered by ishigaki. The ishigaki on the hill are much more overgrown but very peaceful. Whilst the flatland portion of the castle was full of Pokemon trainers, in the solitude of the hill I found woodland crabs! It was my first time seeing crabs inland like that.

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Kiddus i2003Gunshi

96 months ago

Score 0

Made it back here for a better look at the grounds, museum and gate. To really appreciate the size of this castle area you need to ride around the perimeter.

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