Shimotsui Castle

History

Sometime between 1573 and 1592, a simple fort was constructed by Ukita Tadaie at this location which overlooks the important port of Shimotsui along the Japan Inland Sea. A few years prior to the Battle of Sekigahara, the fort was enlarged into a castle. After the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 with the demise of the Ukita Clan, Kobayakawa Hideaki became the lord of the Bizen Domain, roughly the southeastern quarter of present day Okayama Prefecture. After he passed away in 1602, the Ikeda Clan took over. In 1603, Ikeda Nagamasa became the lord of Shimotsui Castle, and under orders from Tokugawa Ieyasu, he extensively rebuilt and expanded the castle which included adding a small castle keep and lots of stone walls. Most of the ruins that can be seen there now date back to this period. In 1639, under the One Domain One Castle Edict, Shimotsui Castle was decommissioned.

Visit Notes

This is not a very convenient castle ruin to visit if you don’t have your own set of wheels. My wife and I took a taxi there from Kojima Station. It cost around 1,700yen. For the return trip, we decided to walk back to the train station, which took around an hour.

Profile and photos by JCastle user RaymondW

Gallery

Stone walls below Sannomaru south side
Stone walls below the Sannomaru south side
Honmaru Bailey
Ninomaru Bailey
Stone wall near the Sannomaru bailey
Sannomaru Bailey
Stone walls below the Ninomaru south side
Stone walls below the honmaru south side
Nishimaru stone walls
Earthen bridge between the Nishinomaru and Ninomaru baileys
Stone walls
Stairs to Honmaru
Map

Castle Profile
English Name	Shimotsui Castle
Japanese Name	下津井城
Alternate Names	Urusu-jo
Founder	Ukita Tadaie
Year Founded	1592-1596
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Prefectural Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Year Reconstructed	1603
Features	stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Shimotsui Sta. (Uno Line), 60 min walk or 1700 yen taxi.
Visitor Information	No entrance fees. Just a park.
Time Required	One hour
Website	http://www.okayama-kanko.jp/modules/kankouinfo/pub kihon detail.php?sel id=1074&sel data kbn=0
Location	Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture
Coordinates	34° 26' 26.16" N, 133° 47' 44.16" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2014
Contributor	RaymondW
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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