Toyama Castle

History

In 1581, Sassa Narimasa a retainer of Oda Nobunaga became lord of the castle. After the Honnoji Incident of 1585, there was a falling out between Sassa Narimasa and Hideyoshi. Hideyoshi himself attacked the castle with 100,000 soldiers. The castle was taken back and decommissioned. Maeda Toshinaga later rebuilt much of the castle and temporarily used it as his retirement home until much of it burned down in 1609. In 1661 Maeda Toshitsugu rebuilt the castle again and made it his home. His ancestors ruled over Toyama from here until the coming of the Meiji Restoration. The castle was dismantled in 1870.

Visit Notes

All pictures donated by Frank T.

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Gallery

Mogi Tenshu viewed from across moat
main keep
Mizubori
main keep
Chitoshimon
Art museum and gate ruin with mock dobei

Castle Profile
English Name	Toyama Castle
Japanese Name	富山城
Alternate Names	Azumi-jo
Founder	Jinbo Nagamoto
Year Founded	1543
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	Reconstructed main keep
Designations	Next 100 Castles
Historical Period	Edo Period
Main Keep Structure	3 levels, 4 floors
Year Reconstructed	1954 (concrete)
Features	main keep, gates, turrets, water moats, stone walls, walls
Visitor Information
Access	Toyama Sta. (Hokuriku Line), 10 min walk
Visitor Information
Time Required
Website	http://www.city.toyama.toyama.jp/shisetu/bunka/html/index.html
Location	Toyama, Toyama Prefecture
Coordinates	36° 41' 34.37" N, 137° 12' 40.75" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2008
Contributor	Frank T.
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

2.43

(14 votes)

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ARTShogun

23 months ago

Score 0

During my 2nd visit to this site I gave more attention to the ishigaki (stone-piled ramparts) than the mogi tenshu (faux reconstructed main keep). The castle's only original structure I also appreciated: dating to 1849, the Chitose-gomon ('Millenium Gate') was relocated away from the castle after its decommission in the Meiji Period. It was restored at the site from 2006, along with the supporting ishigaki. I also went around the back to a more wooded part of the castle - still part of the city park - where one can see a secondary mogi, the Satō Memorial Art Gallery. I had only seen this structure from the front during my first visit back in 2015. I noted that it looked vaguely castle-like, but this impression is complete if one looks from the building's rear side, and it becomes 'high mogi'.

Apparently the castle is engaged in a serious conflict with local crow populations. Cages have been set up which play recorded crow sounds to attract more crows. Crows venturing into the cages find that they are trapped and cannot egress. The park's crow population, which at its peak reached several thousands, has been curtailed this way, though we still saw many. The crows scavenge throughout the city and use the castle grounds as a nesting area, fouling the place up. Toyama Castle's anti-crow defences have subsequently been replicated and deployed throughout the nation.

Historically Toyamajō belonged to Clan Jinbo, and then to Sasa Narimasa, a former vassal of Oda Nobunaga, after his acquisition of Etchū Province. He did quite well for himself until relations with Toyotomi Hideyoshi collapsed and Toyamajō, his headquarters, was besieged, ending in his surrender and relocation to Higo Province. In the Edo period the Meada Clan controlled the castle.

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ARTShogun

40 months ago

Score 0

Have added co-ordinates for old pictures.

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ARTShogun

73 months ago

Score 1

Added the castle-esque museum structure and adjacent gate ruin to photo gallery

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ARTShogun

90 months ago

Score 0

Toyamajou was built in 1543 by Nagamoto Jimbo (yes, Jimbo), In 1568 he was ousted after the Uesgai Clan attacked the castle. Takeda Shingen, rival to Uesugi Kenshin, requested the religious confederate band Ikko-ikki attack the castle to push the Uesugi out of Etchuu Province. Ikko-ikki took the castle in 1572 but Uesugi Kenshin took it back the following year. In 1582, Oda Nobunaga appointed Sassa Narimasa as head of the castle. After Toyotomi Hideyoshi rose to power, Sassa Narimasa revolted and was crushed. The battle destroyed the castle in 1585. Hideyoshi appointed the Maeda Clan to rule Etchuu in 1595 and the castle was rebuilt under Maeda Toshinaga in 1605. It burnt down in 1609 but was rebuilt by 1639 under Maeda Toshitsugu. The Maeda ruled from Toyamajou for over 200 years thereafter. In 1873 the Meiji authorities filled in the castle moats and tore down the structures, including the keep. This was part of the Second Wave of Destruction, as I call it, of Japanese Castles, the war being the last and the Edo Era edicts being the first. In 1954 the Castle Keep, called Tenshukaku, was rebuilt in concrete as a museum for the Toyama Industry Exhibition.

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Kiddus i2003Gunshi

126 months ago

Score 0

A nice location easily accessed. But there is only so many concrete castles that impress. It is ok.

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FurinkazanDaimyo

126 months ago

Score 0

I discovered that the Shiyakusho(=Town hall) of Toyama has an observatory desk at 70m from the ground. You can take some nice pictures from the surrounding mountains and from the castle. The access to the observatory is free and even open on saturdays. Not sure for sundays.

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FurinkazanDaimyo

126 months ago

Score 0

Went today to this castle as well as 2 other sites which are not on this site yet. The castle-museum has alot about the history of the castle. At the entrance i received a book containing the explanation in english. You need to give it back at the end of your visit. Apart from some lettres their are not much artifacts on show. The only armor piece is the helmet of Maeda Toshinaga. It's the original. It is a very tall nagaeboshi kabuto (=lit. long courtier's cap helmet), and when i say tall, it's 1.40m. The entrance fee to the museum is 210yen. The 2 other sites i visited are castleruins. They are Yasudajou-ato and Shiratorijou-ato. It is really easy to do the 3 sites on 1 day. I'll give the info to the webmaster as soon as possible.

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Frank T.Gunshi

158 months ago

Score 0

When I visited three years ago, there was a lot of activity going on behind the turret pictured here, so I don't know what the area looks like now. I assume there's been more reconstruction, and it would be interesting to go back and find out. Stop by if you're in the area. Otherwise, you're not missing much.

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