Yatsushiro Castle

History

Mugishima Castle, a subsidiary castle to Kumamoto Castle, was destroyed in an earthquake in 1619. Kato Kiyomasa's son Kiyotada, lord of the castle, abandoned it. Kato Masakata was directed to build Yatsushiro Castle on this site. He did not finish the castle before the Kato were transferred from Kumamoto in 1632. The new lord, Hosokawa Tadaoki and then his son completed the castle. After their deaths, Matsui Okinaga, a loyal retainer of the Kato took control of the castle. The Matsui clan continued to rule until the Meiji Period. In 1672, the main keep, a yagura and walls burned down in a fire started by lightning. They were never rebuilt. In 1797 the small keep, honmaru palace, and a 3 level yagura were also burned down in a lightning strike. These were, however, rebuilt. In the Meiji Period, all the remaining buildings but the palace were torn down. The palace was used as the prefectural headquarters.

Visit Notes

The Kumamoto Domain had special permission from the Tokugawa Baukufu to have 2 castles in their domain (originally, Kumamoto Castle and Mugishima Castle). When Mugishima Castle was destroyed they transferred that permission to Yatsushiro Castle, otherwise it may have never been built. The purpose of having two castles was to help defend against the Satsuma domain, foreign ships and for the oppression of Christians.

Gallery

Path along the north towards the main gate and tenshudai.
Sumo ring on the southeast corner.
Moat on west side
Tenshudai
main keep foundation
View of Yatsushiro-gu Shrine from the tenshudai.
View of main gate

Castle Profile
English Name	Yatsushiro Castle
Japanese Name	八代城
Founder	Kato Masakata
Year Founded	1619
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Next 100 Castles, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Features	water moats, stone walls, castle town
Visitor Information
Access	Yatsushiro Sta. (Kagoshima Line); 30 min walk or city bus
Visitor Information
Time Required
Website	http://www.city.yatsushiro.kumamoto.jp/museum/event/per ex1/castle/panf.html
Location	Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture
Coordinates	32° 30' 26.86" N, 130° 35' 59.60" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2012
Contributor	Frank T.
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

1.80

(5 votes)

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FurinkazanDaimyo

139 months ago

Score 0

On my way back from Hitoyoshi i stopped here. It is on the same trainline and the site isn't that far from the station(2km). Ther are only the ishigaki left but the park inside and the Yatsushiro shrine are very beautiful. That said i wouldn't have gone to this site if it wasn't on my way.

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