Bitchu Takamatsu Castle

History

The original castle was built by the Ishikawa clan, one of the highest ranking retainers of the Mimura clan in nearby Matsuyama. In 1575, the Mimura and Ishikawa were conquered by the Mori who placed Shimizu Munehara as lord of the castle. During Hideyoshi's campaigns in the area in 1582, he forced Shimizu to surrender (aka: commit seppuku) after he successfully built canals to divert the Ashimori River and flood the castle grounds trapping Muneharu in his own castle. This plan was particularly successful because the castle sits in a relatively wet lowland area and the attack took during the rainy season. The castle was put under control of the Hanabusa family, retainers of the Ukita until it was decommissioned under the one castle per country law.

Visit Notes

The ruins are located along the Kibi Kogen Cycling Path (an off-shoot of the more popular Kibiji District Cycling Path).

The main castle area is now a park but some interesting sites are the remnants of one of the water canals, the grave of the castle lord and suicide spot of his retainers, a building with information about the castle and some artifacts, and many monuments.

This castle is an excellent castle for those interested in actual battles, military strategy, and military feats.

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Gallery

• 

  Takamatsu Castle Ruins Park
• 

  Kawazugahana embankment
• 

  Suicide spot of lord's retainers
• 

  moat
• 

  One of the canals dug to flood the castle
• 

  Gate relocated to Kengoin in Kyoto
• 

  Gate relocated to Kengoin in Kyoto

Castle Profile
English Name	Bitchu Takamatsu Castle
Japanese Name	備中高松城
Alternate Names	Takamatsu Castle
Founder	Ishikawa
Year Founded	16th C.
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Next 100 Castles, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	water moats, trenches
Visitor Information
Access	10 min Walk from Bitchu Takamatsu Station OR Kibi Kogen Cycling Path
Visitor Information	Free
Time Required	40 minutes
Location	Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture
Coordinates	34° 41' 34.12" N, 133° 49' 19.42" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2012
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed
Admin Visits	Viewer Donated

1.50

(4 votes)

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RaymondWDaimyo

123 months ago

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I visited Bitchu-Takamatsu Castle Ruin the day after I went to Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle. There isn't that much to see at this site of Hideyoshi's famous \water siege". If you go in late July the moats are filled with lotus flowers. There is also a small museum in this castle ruin / park which has some additional information about the siege"

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FurinkazanDaimyo

151 months ago

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I'll certainly send you some photos. Btw the first photo here is the bridge leading to the honmaru.

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Jcastle.oldHatamoto

151 months ago

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Furinkazan, Thanks. We can always use more photos and notes if you'd like to add to this.

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FurinkazanDaimyo

151 months ago

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I'm at home since monday evening. I'm still putting my photos and other stuff together from my journey in Japan. I visited this site after Kinojô. It is just 2 stations away. I intended to give this castle also to this site, damn Phibbyfan, lol. There is really not alot to see here, but i found the site interesting to visit. Actually there are 2 sites. The site of the castle and the site of the kawazugahana remnants. These are only 1km apart from each other and there are plenty of direction-signs (with english). On the site of the kawazugahana there are only explanations in japanese, but on the castle grounds there is 1 big panel with english translation. It is better to begin your visit with the kawazugahana. Just walk under the very big torii leading to the Saijo Inari shrine(you can't miss it). Turn right on the second little path to the site. From there follow the directions on the signs. You'll have to walk a little back to go to the castle remnants.

It is interesting to note that the seppuku of Shimizu Munehara was the only condition for a truce between the Mori and Hashiba(later Toyotomi) Hideyoshi. Hashiba needed this truce, because he learned of the murder of Oda Nobunaga, his master, at Honnoji by Akechi Mitsuhide. He wanted to be the avenger and he did at the battle of Yamazaki. From this point Hashiba steadily grew in power to become the most prominent figure in Japan.

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