The Ruins of Kuwana Castle in Mie Prefecture

The Ruins of Kuwana Castle in Mie Prefecture

Kuwana Castle was located along the old Tokaido road. During the Edo Age(1603 - 1868), the mouths of the Kiso, Nagara, and Ibi rivers were located to the east of Kuwana, and before the technology to build bridges existed, people traveled the approximately 30km journey to Miya (present-day Nagoya) by boat. The pier of "Shichiri-no-Watashi" Ferry was located just north of Kuwana Castle, making the castle a key transportation hub.

In particular, after TOKUGAWA Ieyasu(1543 - 1616) won the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and seized power, Kuwana became an extremely important location when the TOYOTOMI clan, located in Osaka, advanced on Edo (present-day Tokyo).

In 1601, after the Battle of Sekigahara, TOKUGAWA Ieyasu appointed HONDA Tadakatsu(1548 - 1610) to Kuwana. HONDA Tadakatsu was an important vassal of TOKUGAWA Ieyasu, known as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the TOKUGAWA clan, and it is clear that Ieyasu considered Kuwana an important base.

Ruins of Kuwana Castle are located near the mouth of the Ibi River. You will approach to the ruins of Kuwana Castle from the west side. You will cross the Moat of the Third Bailey.

Beyond the Moat of the Third Bailey, you will come across a long, narrow enclosure Bailey stretching north to south, where "samurai" residences were located during the Edo Age.

From the long and narrow bailey, you will see the main bailey, shown in the blow left picture, and the moat between the main bailey and the second bailey, shown in the below right picture.

The below picture shows the second bailey, surrounded by wide moats.

The second bailey was a sturdy bailey surrounded by "Masugata" gates, box-shape-style gates and "Tamon" Turrets, but there is no trace of that now.

To the north from the second bailey, the main bailey is located across the "Yoshinomaru" Bailey.

At the south-east corner of the main bailey, the site of "Tatsumi" Turret is located. "Tatsumi" means south-east, in Japanese.

Ever since the castle tower was burned down in 1701, "Tatsumi" Turret has been the symbol of Kuwana Castle. At the end of the Edo Age, when the Kuwana Domain surrendered to the new government forces during the Boshin War in 1868, the Meiji government burned down Tatsumi Turret as proof of its surrender.

In the main bailey, "Chinkoku-Shukoku" Shrine is located. "Chinkoku-Shukoku" means to pacify and to protect the country. "Chinkoku-Shukoku" Shrine was originally founded in 1784, at Shirakawa Castle in present-day Fukushima Prefecture, in order to enshrine MATSUDAIRA Sadatsuna(1592 - 1652), who was the first generation of HISAMATSU-MATSUDAIRA Clan.

In 1823, MATSUDAIRA Sadanaga(1791 - 1838), the tenth generation of HISAMATSU-MATSUDAIRA Clan, was transferred from Shirakawa to Kuwana. "Chinkoku-Shukoku" Shrine was also moved from Shirakawa.

When I visited in March, the Japanese apricot flowers were in full bloom.

To the east of the main shrine hall, the base of the castle tower is located. When HONDA Tadakatsu built Kuwana Castle in 1601, the castle tower and fifty-one turrets were built. After the castle tower was burned down in 1701, it was never rebuilt until the end of the Edo Age.

From the castle tower base, the main shrine hall could be seen beyond the Japanese apricot flowers.

To the north of the main bailey, the third bailey was located. At the entrance of the site of the third bailey you will see the statue of HONDA Tadakatsu.

A spacious lawn spreads out at the site of the third bailey, and the moat of the third bailey stretches north and south beside it.

The third bailey faces the Ibi River. The Ibi River flows vigorously. The embankment on the other side is the one that separates it from the Nagara River.

"Banryu" turret has been reconstructed on this side of the embankment in 2003. It is two storied turret and the first floor is used as Integrated Water Gate Management Office of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

If you walk to the west from "Banryu" turret, you will see the outer moat of Kuwana Castle and the remains of the pier of "Shichiri-no-Watashi" Ferry.

At the remains of the pier of "Shichiri-no-Watashi" Ferry, Torii gate is located. The torii gate was once used at Ise Grand Shrine, which is the Japan's most prestigious shrine.

In 1868, when the Tokugawa shogunate was overthrown by the Meiji government, Kuwana Castle was abandoned. In 1928, it was renovated as Kyuka Park and is now open to the public. Although there is little trace of its former appearance, it is a beautiful park with a wide moat.

How to get there
From Tokyo, take a "Nozomi" on the Tokaido Shinkansen, to Nagoya. Change to a local train on the "Kansai Main Line" or Kintetsu Line to Kuwana. The ruins of Kuwana Castle are located to the east from Kuwana Station, approximately twenty-five minutes on foot.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Tado Taisha Shrine
Rokkaen in Kuwana
Mt. Gozaisho
Ruins of Kameyame Castle
Kameyama Castle Town
Seki Post Town