Matsushiro Castle
Cost
free
Attractions > Other Cities and Areas > Japanese Castles > Nagano
About | Access | Hotels & Lodging | Hours & Fees
The main gate of Matsushiro Castle in Nagano Japan
About
Matsushiro Castle, originally known as Kaizu Castle is near Nagano and played a role in the long rivalry between Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. It is a Japanese "flatland" castle in Matsushiro town (a suburb of Nagano City) located at a strategic location by the Chikuma river near the major Japanese city of Nagano in Nagano Prefecture. The castle was originally built under orders of the famous Lord Takeda Shingen in 1560 and was called Kaizu Castle. Kaizu Castle was used as a "base of operations" for a continuing conflict Shingen had with Kenshin for control of Shinano Province (which is now Nagano Province). Many battles, including some of Japan's most famous "Samurai" battles like the Battle of Kawanakajima were fought near the castle. You can read an in-depth account about the Battle of Kawanakajima on our Kazugayama Castle page.
After Takeda Shingen died from illness at the age of 53, his son Takeda Katsuyori continued the clans success and increased the Takeda clan's area to the largest extent ever. However, in 1575 at the Battle of Nagashina the Takeda Clan's army was destroyed, lost many of it's great samurai and the the clan fell into sharp decline. After the Tokugawa Shogunate took control of Japan, the Sanada Clan was put in charge of Kaizu Castle in 1622 and the castle was renamed to Matsushiro Castle in 1711. Matsushiro Castle burned down 2 times, was destroyed by flooding once and destroyed by an earthquake once but every time was rebuilt until finally was dismantled by the Meiji Government's Meiji Restoration that abolished the han system (Daimyou Lords abolished and castles detroyed).
The current Matsushiro Castle site is registered as a National Historic Site. Some gates of the castle were restored using traditional construction methods based on the original. Moats and ramparts have been repaired. There is no "Main Keep" though and visitors will have to imagine what it looked like. The grounds are very pretty and the Matsushiro Castle grounds are known for its cherry trees in spring. Matsushiro Castle is a short walk from Matsushiro Station and admission is free.
Please visit our Japanese Castles page to find more castles in Japan.
Data
Name: Matsushiro Castle (松代城 - Matsushiro Jyou) orignally Kaizu Castle
Original Year Built: 1553-1560
Type: Flatland Castle 平城
Class: Medium Castle
Main Tower Size: No Main Tower
Features: Towers (Turrets), Gates, Bridges, Water Moats, Stone Walls, Castle town
Condition: Genuine Reconstruction
Founder: Takeda Shingen
Timeline
1553-1560 - In order to protect and use as a launching point for campaigns to the North West, Takeda Shingen ordered a castle built here.
1582 - After the Takeda Clan was destroyed, the Mori Clan took control of the castle.
1717 - The entire castle and all building burned down in a fire.
1862 - The palace (not Main Tower) was rebuilt.
1872 - After the Meiji Restoration the castle was decommissioned.
1873 - The palace and other small structures that had been rebuilt were burned down by arson.
2003 - Faithful reconstruction of the castle began.
References
Access
Closest Train Station: Nagano
44 Matsushiro Matsushiromachi
Nagano-shi, Nagano 381-1231 Japan
- by Bus: From JR Nagano Station: take bus #3 for 30 min. and get off at "Matsushiro Eki". 5 min. walk to the castle grounds.
- by Train: Train Service to Matsushiro ended in 2011, please take the bus.
Hotels & Lodging
View a full list of Hotels and Lodging in or nearby Matsushiro Castle.
Hours & Fees
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Last Entry at 4:30 p.m.)
Closed: No closing days
Cost: Free
Information presented is based on the time it was created. There may be changes since publication. Please confirm information by visiting the Official Website before visiting.
Resources
Website: Matsushiro Castle Homepage
