Maruoka Castle, the Oldest of its Kind Remaining

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Maruoka Castle, the Oldest of its Kind Remaining
Kasumi-cho, Maruoka-cho, Sakai City
The tower that remains at the castle site is the oldest of its kind, over 430 years old and built during
the time of Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Winter view from the castle
Maruoka Kojō Festival Parade①
Stone
monument
inscribed with
Honda
Sakuzaemons
higetsugu’s
famous
ippitsu keijō
Maruoka Castle’s Winter Light-up
Maruoka Castle, Oldest in Japan (Nationally Designated Important Cultural Property)
The castle grounds house an inscription bearing the words of Honda Sakuzaemonshigetsugu, loyal retainer to
Tokugawa Iyeyasu. Written from the front to his wife, it is famous both for its contents and brevity (it is an ippitsu
Maruoka Castle, located in present-day Sakai City, was built in 1576 by Shibata Katsutoyo as a branch castle for
Fukui’s Kitanoshō Castle. The remaining watchtower is the oldest of its kind in Japan.
keijō, the shortest form of letter in Japanese). In conjunction with this, a contest has been held every year since 1993
in which entrants submit their letter, written in this style. The contest is meant to revive this traditional form of letter
Around the castle grounds are planted 400
writing and ensure its survival as an aspect of Japanese culture. Nearby Kasumi ga Jō Park features ippitsu keijō
When they bloom in
accompanied by paintings on kamaboko-ita, often referred to as “Japan’s smallest canvas.” Every October the Maruoka
April, the blossoms make it appear as though
Castle Festival features processions of participants in samurai armor and children dressed as “little daimyo” lords,
the castle watchtower is floating in mist. From
allowing festivalgoers to relive Japan’s history.
yoshino cherry trees.
Maruoka Castle
this the castle derives its other name, Kasumi ga
Jō (Mist Castle). Though its inner moat has
since been filled and turned to roadways, much
of the outer moat remains in the form of
restored waterways, flowing as quietly as they
did when the castle was built.
250m
Maruoka Castle Outer Moat Remains
Ippitsu keijō and kamaboko-ita artwork②
地図出典：国土地理院発行２万５千分の１地形図
Photos①～② courtesy of Sakai City