Zeze Castle

History

After the Battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered a new castle to be built in Zeze. This castle was designed by Todo Takatora. In its construction, some building materials were taken from the dismantled Otsu Castle. Zeze Castle had a four storey castle keep, a rarity in Japan as the number four is considered to be unlucky. The castle ruin site protrudes into Lake Biwa and is considered to be one of the top three lakeside castles (along with Takashima Castle in Nagano, and Matsue Castle in Shimane) in Japan. The Honmaru (Main Bailey) and Ninomaru (Second Bailey) of the castle were like islands floating in the lake, and it was also called Sekiroku (Stone Deer) Castle. In May 1662, this castle was badly damaged by an earthquake. The original castle keep was severely damaged, and some of the Honmaru and Ninomaru turrets including their bases collapsed and sunk into the lake. The Honmaru and Ninomaru were repaired, and the baileys were merged into one, the current site of Zeze Park.

The first lord of the castle was Toda Kazuaki in 1601 followed by Toda Ujikane, Honda Yasutoshi, Honda Toshitsugu, Suganuma Sadayoshi, Ishikawa Tadafusa, and Ishikawa Noriyuki. In 1651, Honda Toshitsugu took over again and until the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the Honda Clan ruled the castle. In 1870, the castle was demolished and many of its gates were sold to nearby shrines. Some of these original gates, which are listed as important national cultural assets, can be found at Shinozu Shrine (篠津神社), Wakamiya Hachiman Shrine (若宮八幡神社), and Zeze Shrine (膳所神社). The Shinozu Shrine’s current Otemon is the former North Otemon of Zeze Castle. Zeze Shrine has two of the Zeze Castle’s original Honmaru gates with the current Zeze Shrine’s Omote Gate being a former Zeze Castle Honmaru gate facing the Ninomaru. Wakamiya Hachiman Shrine’s main gate is the former Honmaru’s Inuhashi Gate. An original two-storey turret from the east side of the Honmaru can be found in Chausuyama Park (茶臼山公園). It has been converted into a small building used for meetings.

Visit Notes

There isn’t a lot to see here now. Some stone walls still remains, but most of the baileys have been built over and form part of modern Zeze. The location is reasonably scenic on the lakeside, but is more of a park now rather than a castle ruin. The real attraction would be seeing the original gates at the different shrines and walking along the southern shore of Lake Biwa. To get around to the local shrines, I used my bicycle. Without a bicycle, it would be a nice long walk to get in all the original gates and the two-storey turret. Zeze Park is around 20 minutes on foot from JR Zeze Station. Zeze Shrine, with two of the original gates, is the closest shrine. It is 5 minutes away on foot. Without the original gates moved to nearby shrines, this castle site would only rate half a star for its minimal ruins but with the gates, it gets bumped up to a one-star rating for me.

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Gallery

Honmaru stone walls
Honmaru Stone Walls
Honmaru Gate
Zeze Castle ruins
water moat
honmaru west wall
main keep ruins
Yagura moved to Chausuyama Park
Replica gate
The North Oote Gate (Shinozu Shrine Main Gate)
The North Oote Gate (Shinozu Shrine Main Gate)
Zeze Castle gate between the Honmaru and Ninomaru (Zeze Shrine's Main Gate)
Honmaru Dobashi Gate (Zeze Shrine's North Gate)
Honmaru's Inubashiri Gate (Wakamiya Hachiman Shrine's Main Gate)
Honmaru's Inubashiri Gate (Wakamiya Hachiman Shrine's Main Gate)
South Ohtemon (relocated to Muchisaki Shrine)
The South Oote Gate (Muchizaki Shrine’s Main Gate)
Honda Clan's Kamon (family crest) on former South Oote Gate
Honmaru’s Black Gate (Goryo Shrine’s Main Shrine’s Side Gate)
Ninomaru’s Water Gate (Shingu Shrine’s gate)
Honda kamons on the Ninomaru Water Gate
Zeze Castle gate (Chikatsuo Shrine’s Main Gate)
Zeze Castle gate's Honda kamons (Chikatsuo Shrine’s Main Gate)
Zeze Castle Storehouse (Rittai Jizo Shrine)
Zeze Castle Storehouse's interior (Rittai Jizo Shrine)
Zeze Castle Storehouse's Honda kamons (Rittai Jizo Shrine)
Nagayamon (Daiyo Temple)
Honda kamon on nagayamon (Daiyo Temple)
Nagayamon (Keigan Temple)
Nagayamon (Kyonin Temple)
Possible relocated Zeze Castle gate (Zeze Shrine's South Gate)
Possible relocated Zeze Castle gate (Zeze Shrine's South Gate)
Honda kamon on Zeze Shrine's South Gate
Possible relocated Zeze Castle gate (Oka, Ritto)
Honda kamon on possible relocated gate (Oka, Ritto)
Possible relocated Zeze Castle gate (Ten Shrine)
Sign at Ten Shrine
New map at the Honmaru
Enshin Temple Gate
Tomb of Toda Kazuaki, first lord of Zeze Castle (Enshin Temple)
Tomb of Honda Toshitsugu, 4th and again 8th lord of Zeze Castle
Otsu City Museum of History

Castle Profile
English Name	Zeze Castle
Japanese Name	膳所城
Alternate Names	Sekiroku Castle
Founder	Toda Kazuaki
Year Founded	1601
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	has Important Cultural Properties
Historical Period	Edo Period
Artifacts	Shinozu Shrine Omote Gate, Zeze Shrine Omote Gate
Features	gates, turrets, trenches, stone walls, walls
Visitor Information
Access	Zeze Sta. (JR Biwako Line), 20 min walk
Visitor Information	No fees
Time Required	30 minutes for castle ruins and 2 hours for visiting original structures scattered around Zeze
Website	http://www.biwako-visitors.jp/search/spot.php?id=802
Location	Otsu, Shiga Prefecture
Coordinates	34° 59' 42.97" N, 135° 53' 43.26" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2012
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed
Admin Visits	Viewer Donated

1.83

(6 votes)

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FurinkazanDaimyo

10 months ago

Score 1

On 15/05/2023, I saw a gate of Zeze castle at Muchisaki shrine not far from my hotel in Minami-Kusatsu. On 16/05/2023, I wandered around Ōtsu to see several other gates of that castle at different shrines. I took a train on the Keihan line and got off at Kawaragahama station. There are about 1 train every 10 minutes. The first shrine was Wakamiya Hachimanjinja. From there I walked to Shinozujinja. I then visited the ruins of Zeze castle itself. There isn't much to see. Some ishigaki, and the rest is a nice park at the shore of Biwa lake. From there I walked to Zezejinja, which has 2 former gates of Zezejō.

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RaymondWDaimyo

10 months ago

Score 1

Good to hear that you visited some of the relocated Zeze Castle gates. I'm glad the work I have put into this castle profile has proven to be useful and beneficial for another castle fan.

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RaymondWDaimyo

20 months ago

Score 1

In an article published in the Journal of The Japanese Institute of Landscape Architecture in 1997, Zeze Shrine’s South Gate is listed as a relocated gate from Zeze Castle. It looks like it has been restored in recent years as the wood and tiles look a little too new. However, since Otsu City has not listed it as one of the relocated Zeze Castle structures, I have classified it as a possible relocated gate. It does have lots of Honda family crests, albeit they look quite new.

The koraimon-style gate at Oka, Ritto, has quite a few Honda kamons on it, and it is definitely an old and weather-beaten gate. On a sign there, it says that it was the first gate to a masugata-style gate at Zeze Castle. On some Japanese castle websites, this gate is mentioned as being from Zeze Castle. However, Otsu City has not listed this gate as a relocated Zeze Castle gate, so I have classified it here as a possible relocated gate.

The gate at Ten Shrine is a bit more dubious. Almost all of the relocated gates and buildings from Zeze Castle have some Honda kamons on their roof tiles. The only exception is the Honmaru Black Gate at Goryo Shrine. However, Otsu City has listed this gate as one of the relocated Zeze castle structures in a book, on its website, and in a display at the Otsu City Museum of History, so it is possible that not all relocated Zeze Castle structures have Honda kamons on them. Only one Japanese castle website has mentioned this could be a Zeze Castle gate. Otsu City has not put this gate on its list of Zeze Castle relocated structures, so I have classified it here as a possible relocated gate.

If anyone comes across something more definitive about these three gates or any of the other Zeze Castle gates and buildings, please post a comment about them. It is possible the status of these possible extant gates could change in the future when more evidence / historical documents are uncovered about Zeze Castle.

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ARTShogun

20 months ago

Score 0

I see I actually jumped the gun with my initial comment and that you weren't quite finished. Thank you so much for your research and editing in putting all these together. Your initial comment on the Yokosuka profile reminded me that I was meant to add to this profile after my visits with RonS, but I would've held off if I knew you were going to do such a thorough job of it! Thanks again; it's really cool to see them all on the map. Looks like I'll have to go back to see 'em all! I edited the description for the Muchisaki Shrine gate. As for permission, feel free to add any information to any of my photos on this site. It's a collaborative effort and I trust your judgement ^0^

They got rid of a bansho? That's such a shame >.<

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ARTShogun

20 months ago

Score 0

wow, great update! I wonder if Zeze Castle breaks the record for number of extant relocated structures then? Up there with Fushimi Castle? The relocated turret at Chausuyama is in a bad way, but maybe it can be restore one day at Zeze Park.

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RaymondWDaimyo

20 months ago

Score 0

Glad you now like the update, ART. It’s all done now with a few more additional photos. I think Fushimi Castle is still the top dog in terms of both the variety and quantity of relocated structures. I haven’t visited the relocated Zeze Castle yagura since 2012. Perhaps, I will go to Chausuyama Park and check it out sometime in the next few weeks. I doubt if Otsu City will move the yagura back to Zeze Castle Park.

There was an original guardhouse next to the site of the Setaguchi Gate into the former castle town, but unfortunately it was demolished to make way for a carpark back in 2006.

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RaymondWDaimyo

20 months ago

Score 0

@ART. Thanks for adding map coordinates to my 2012 photos. I haven't changed the information for the photo of the Muchizaki Shrine's Main Gate that you have uploaded by renaming and identifying it as the Zeze Castle's South Ootemon. I've only changed the numbering from your high number to a lower number, so I have space to add my photos. When it comes to editing any written text, I don't change what other people have written without their permission.

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ARTShogun

20 months ago

Score 0

Added relocated gate at Muchisaki Shrine. Added co-ordinates to old photos and new.

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RaymondWDaimyo

50 months ago

Score 1

ART, thanks for the info about one more of Zeze Castle's extant gates at Muchisaki Hachimangu(鞭崎神社). It's a well preserved Koraimon-style gate. This shrine is only a few hundred metres from Kusatsu General Hospital and around a 25-minute walk from Minami-Kusatsu Station. The shrine is located near the end of the former Yabase Road(矢橋道). If you walk a few hundred metres more along the former Yabase Road, a branch road from the Nakasendo, to the shore of Lake Biwa, you will come to the site of the former Yabase Port(矢橋港). There are two ishigaki jetties there as well as a sign about the history of this small port. For those who don't like walking, you can catch the bus going to the Aeon Mall from Minami-Kusatsu Station, getting off at the Kusatsu General Hospital.

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ARTShogun

52 months ago

Score 1

Ron and I went back here and avenged ourselves on Zezejou by visiting all of the relocated structures. I'll add it here later but there's also the relocated Minami Ohtemon gate at Muchisaki Hachimanguu. The Yagura at Chausuyama is in a bad way. It has mutated shachihoko on it.

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ARTShogun

88 months ago

Score 1

There is a whole cabal of imitation architecture surrounding this site. Unfortunately there are no exhibits at the castle shaped bunka center, just office space. I tried to see all the scattered about structures but i gave up and watched star wars instead.

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ARTShogun

89 months ago

Score 1

I haven't been there but nearby there is also the Biwako Culture Center which is shaped like a castle. I don't think I'd come here otherwise but I think it'll be worth it now with the Bunkakan to help get my castle fix, but whilst I'm a fan of castle impersonation architecture, I know it makes others sad and angry, so it's not for everyone.

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RaymondWDaimyo

144 months ago

Score 0

The local council workers have just cut the grass and cleared the weeds at Zeze Castle Ruin, so everything is tidier than in the photos shown. Also, I have been to this castle ruin a number of times, and the best time to go is during the cherry blossoms.

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