Iwatsuki Castle

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Iwatsuki1.jpg

History

Ohta Doshin, a retainer of Ougiya Uesugi Mochitomo, built Iwatsuki castle. It was built around the same time as Kawagoe Castle and Edo Castle as an important fortification for the Ougiya Uesugi clan. The castle made good use of natural defenses with the Arakawa River to the North and East and a swampy area to the South and West.

The castle was taken over by the Hojo in 1525. Iwatsuki Castle fell to Hideyoshi's allies during his Odawara campaigns. It is said that a force of 20,000 was sent against the 2000 defenders. After Tokugawa moved to Edo, many different lords were stationed here. In 1775 a great fire burned down most of the castle buildings. The castle was dismantled in 1870 and most of it has been settled as a residential area. The remaining Shinkuruwa and Kajikurawa were external courtyards outside the main Honmaru, Ninomaru, etc.


Visit Notes

A nice little park for a walk (except for the dozen or so mosquito bites I got). The 2 original gates are well preserved. They could have put more effort into signage around the grounds.


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Gallery
  • kuromon
  • yakuimon gate
  • shoji bori moat
  • shinkuruwa moat
  • shinkuruwa dry moat
  • shinkuruwa moat
  • kajikuruwa
  • pond
  • map


Castle Profile
English Name Iwatsuki Castle
Japanese Name 岩槻城
Founder Ohta Doshin
Year Founded 1457
Castle Type Flatland
Castle Condition No main keep but other buildings
Designations Local Historic Site
Historical Period Edo Period
Features gates
Visitor Information
Access Iwatsuki Sta. (Noda Line), 20 min walk
Visitor Information 24/7 free; park
Time Required 120 minutes
Website http://www.city.saitama.jp/www/contents/1188883041192/index.html
Location Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture
Coordinates 35° 57' 3.85" N, 139° 42' 41.51" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle 2009
Contributor Eric
Admin Year Visited 2009
Admin Visits August 29, 2009


2.33
(3 votes)
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avatar

ARTShogun

39 months ago
Score 1++

Iwatsukijō (Iwatsuki)  岩槻城・白鶴城 [岩槻]

It was a terribly rainy day when I visited this site so I struggled to take any crisp pictures, my camera being rather sodden. The ruins of Iwatsukijō are extensive and impressive. Features include multiple kuruwa (baileys), dorui (earth-piled ramparts), karabori (dry moats), and two preserved gates from the castle. In one trench shōjibori had been unearthed, which is a sort of latticework trench system, but this has been reburied. The site today is centered around a large park. I came across a sign in town which said Hirokoji (広小路) Street, "former samurai house street", but there aren't any old homes there now unfortunately. There is still an old bell tower, however, built in 1853, used to tell the time for the castle and town. Iwatsukijō was my 400th unique castle visit!
avatar

Anonymous user #1

163 months ago
Score 0++
Iwatsuki is mildly famous as the site war-dogs, (gunken), were first used in a battle. It is also mildly famous as a good cherry-blossom viewing site in Saitama. The town is notable for its production of dolls. There is a service station on the site of the honmaru.