Tsu Castle

History

Tsu Castle was originally founded by Oda Nobunaga's younger brother Oda Nobukane as part of Nobunaga's conquest of the Ise region. Following Oda, Tomita Nobuhiro became lord of the castle in 1595 and the Tomita family ruled until the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. Nobukane's 5 level main keep was also burned down in the battle during an attack by the Western forces. Like Iga Ueno Castle, after the battle the castle and lands were confiscated by the Tokugawa and placed in the control of Todo Takatora.

Todo Takatora renovated Tsu Castle and rejuvenated the castle town. Instead of a single large main keep, he built up two 3 level yagura. The Todo family ruled over Tsu Castle until the Meiji Period when the castle was dismantled.

Visit Notes

Tsu Castle is one I've wanted to visit for awhile because of it's connection to Todo Takatora, the famous castle architect. Today, Tsu castle has just the one reconstructed yagura, but the moat and stone alls of the Honmaru and Nishinomaru baileys are well preserved. It does not look like the reconstructed yagura is open to the public. There are also many other castle ruins in the area so it is well worth a stop on your tour of Mie Castles.
築城の名手藤堂高虎のお城としてずっと行きたいと思っていたところです。現在は模擬櫓が一基しかありませんが、本丸と西の丸の石垣と堀が見事に残されています。残念ながら櫓は入れないようです。この周辺には多くの城跡があるので、他のお城との組み合わせで行く価値はあります。

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Gallery

Reconstructed 3 story yagura
Reconstructed Yagura
Reconstructed yagura
Reconstructed yagura
Entrance to the Nishinomaru Bailey
Uchibori Moat
Nishi Kurogane Gate stone walls
Main keep foundation
Main keep foundation
Main Keep foundation
Uzumimon Gate
Stone Walls outside the Uzumimon Gate
Tsukimi Yagura foundation
Along the top of the stone walls
Stone walls of the main Uzumimon Gate and Main Keep foundation
stone walls near the Ushitora Yagura remains
Uchibori moat
Stone walls and moat
Stone walls
Honmaru stone walls
Honmaru stone walls from across the Uchibori moat
Inui Yagura Fuondation
Nishinomaru stone walls and Uchibori moat
Map

Castle Profile
English Name	Tsu Castle
Japanese Name	津城
Alternate Names	Anotsu-jo
Founder	Oda Nobukane
Year Founded	1571
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	Next 100 Castles, Prefectural Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Year Reconstructed	1958
Features	gates, turrets, water moats, stone walls, walls
Visitor Information
Access	Tsu Shinmachi Sta. (Kisei Line, Kintetsu Nagoya Line)
Visitor Information
Time Required
Website	http://www.info.city.tsu.mie.jp/modules/shogaigakushusupotsuka/article.php?articleid=240
Location	Tsu, Mie Prefecture
Coordinates	34° 43' 3.97" N, 136° 30' 27.50" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2007
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2011
Admin Visits	November 25, 2011

2.50

(12 votes)

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ARTShogun

96 months ago

Score 0

Tsu Castle has high ishigaki (stone walls) and a large moat segment. There is a yagura (turret) of three-stories which is nicely designed although smallish. Whilst I was in the castle park, a large number of Pokemon trainers of all ages, sizes and backgrounds had converged. There was even a film crew. Since many castle sites are now parks I have seen many Pokemon trainers of late.

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FurinkazanDaimyo

127 months ago

Score 0

After Matsusaka-castle, i went to this one. It's about 2km from Tsu-station. I have nothing else to add than the commentary below, just that trees are again blocking some views of the ishigaki. The site is a beautiful park.

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RaymondWDaimyo

156 months ago

Score 0

The autumn leaves are also at their peak now at this castle site. This was the third castle ruin that I made it to today after two others in Mie.

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RaymondWDaimyo

164 months ago

Score 0

After visiting Matsuzaka Castle and Tamaru Castle, this castle was a bit of let down. Unlike the other two castle ruins in the area, all the outer baileys of this castle site have been built over. The city hall is where the Ninomaru used to be, a NTT building is where the Yozoukan used to be, and the inner dry moat (uchibori) is filled in and now a park. Only the honmaru is left. There is one reconstructed turret (Ushitora Yagura) with plenty of the honmaru ishigaki still around with a water moat on the north and west side. There is a nice statue of Takatora Todo, the great castle architect, in the middle of the honmaru near the tenshudai. The sign about Todo is in English and Japanese. This castle ruin is about 15 minutes walk from the Kintetsu Shintsumachi Station. As it has a reconstructed turret and a statue of Todo, this castle site just made a two-star rating. If you are running short on time in Mie, visit Matsuzaka Castle and Tamura Castle before Tsu Castle.

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