- Hiroshima domainAsano family continues to rule
- Hiroshima is a place where the Mori family destroyed the Sue clan (Ouchi clan) and made it their own territory during the Sengoku period. Hiroshima Castle, the domain office of the Hiroshima domain, was built by Terumoto Mori, the grandson of Motonari Mori. However, the seki that occurred in 1600
Hiroshima castleHiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture
- Basic data
- History of Hiroshima Castle
- History of Hiroshima Domain
- Highlights of Hiroshima Castle
- Tourist attractions
| Other name | Koi Castle, Zaima Castle, Toma Castle |
|---|---|
| castle construction | 1589 |
| address | 21-1 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture |
| telephone number | 082-221-7512 |
| Opening hours | 9:00-18:00 (March-November/Admission until 17:30), 9:00-17:00 (December-February/Admission until 16:30) |
| closing day | December 29th to December 31st |
| Admission fee | Adults 370 yen / Seniors and high school students 180 yen / Junior high school students and under free |
- Transportation access to Hiroshima Castle
- Get off at the Kamiyacho Higashi/Nishi tram stop and walk for 15 minutes.
HISTORYHiroshima Castle was built by Terumoto Mori and destroyed by the atomic bomb.
Hiroshima Castle is a flat castle built in Naka Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture. The castle was built by Terumoto Mori, the 14th head of the Mori clan and the grandson of Motonari Mori, and functioned as the domain office of the Hiroshima domain until the Meiji period.
In 1945, the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima City, causing all of the existing castle towers to collapse and being rebuilt in 1958. Let's unravel the history of Hiroshima Castle.
- History up to the construction of Hiroshima Castle
- After the Jokyu War in the Kamakura period, Hiroshima was ruled by the Takeda clan, who were ordered to protect Aki Province. As time progressed and the Sengoku period began, Motonari Mori rose to power, destroyed the Takeda clan, defeated the Sue clan (Ouchi clan) at the Battle of Itsukushima, and Aki became the property of the Mori clan. The Mori clan had Yoshida Koriyama Castle as their residence, but in the era of Motonari's grandson Terumoto Mori, Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified the country and the world became stable. In this case, the need for ``early modern castles,'' which were built as symbols of power and built castle towns around castles, increased, rather than castles to prevent invasions from enemies. For this reason, Terumoto Mori is said to have decided to build Hiroshima Castle, thinking of moving his base to the coast where there was a plain where a castle town could be built and where he could take advantage of water transport on the Seto Inland Sea trade route.
There is also a theory that when Mori Terumoto had his first audience with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he toured Osaka Castle and Jurakudai and realized the necessity of modern castles. - Hiroshima Castle after the Meiji era From Hiroshima Castle construction to the Meiji era
- Construction of Hiroshima Castle began in 1589. Kuroda Josui, who served as construction magistrate for Mori Motonari's fourth son, Hoida Motokiyo, and Ninomiya Shutatsu, and was known as a master castle builder, was also involved in the construction of the castle.
Because Hiroshima Castle was built on a river bank, the initial construction work called ``island construction'', which involved filling in the river bank and dredging the moat, took a lot of effort. However, as Mori Terumoto actively proceeded with castle construction, the moat and castle walls were completed at the end of 1590, and Terumoto entered Hiroshima Castle the following year. In 1592, Toyotomi Hideyoshi also stopped by Hiroshima Castle on his way to Nagoya Castle in Kyushu to lead the Bunroku War. All construction work on Hiroshima Castle was completed in 1599, and it is said that the name "Hiroshima" was given at that time.
At the time of its construction, Hiroshima Castle had a three-tiered moat and was equipped with numerous bazaars for practical use, and is said to have been comparable in size to Osaka Castle at the time. However, in the Battle of Sekigahara that occurred the following year in 1600, Mori Terumoto was transferred from Hiroshima to Choshu after serving as the commander-in-chief of the Western Army, and then Masanori Fukushima, who came over, began large-scale renovations. As a result, no records remain of Hiroshima Castle at the time of its construction.
Masanori Fukushima carried out full-scale maintenance of the castle and castle town development, which had been insufficient during the Mori era, improving the outer corner and creating an inner moat, middle moat, and outer moat. The current appearance of Hiroshima Castle was formed at this time. Additionally, the Saigoku Kaido road will be rebuilt to pass through the south side of the castle town, and the Unseki Kaido road will be developed. However, this large-scale renovation provoked the wrath of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and in 1609, Fukushima Masanori was sentenced to suspension. Furthermore, in 1619, the shogunate decided that the restoration work for the damage caused by the flood was an undocumented renovation that violated samurai laws, and it was transferred to Kawanakajima, Shinano Province.
After that, Nagaaki Asano entered Hiroshima Castle in the same year, and the Asano clan continued to rule Hiroshima from then on until the Meiji era. Since castle renovation work was strictly prohibited by the shogunate, the Asano clan did not undertake any other construction work other than renovating a portion of the stone wall of the turret. However, large-scale land reclamation projects have continued since the time of the Mori clan, and the land around Hiroshima Castle is said to have expanded five to six times throughout the Edo period. - Hiroshima Castle after the Meiji era
- In the Meiji era, feudal domains were abolished and prefectures were established, and military facilities were built at Hiroshima Castle, just like other castles in Japan. During the Sino-Japanese War, the Imperial Headquarters was located in Hiroshima, and in 1890 (Meiji 30), the Hiroshima Army Regional Children's School was built on the grounds of Hiroshima Castle, and Hiroshima developed as a military capital. Masu.
While castle moats and other areas were reclaimed due to population growth, buildings such as Hiroshima Castle's castle tower were recognized for their historical value and were designated as former national treasures in 1931.
When the Pacific War began, important military documents were added to many of the buildings that remained from the Edo period, including the castle tower, Tohashi Yagura, part of the back gate, Nakamikado, Omote Gomon, Ninomaru Taira Yagura, Tamon Yagura, and Taiko Yagura. It has become a storage warehouse. As a result, it became a target for attacks by the U.S. military, and on August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on it, causing all existing buildings to collapse and burn down. At that time, it is said that there were 10,000 soldiers in and around the grounds of Hiroshima Castle. Many of them became victims of the atomic bomb.
In 1953, when the castle ruins were designated as a national historic site, momentum for rebuilding the castle tower increased, and in 1958, as the city celebrated its 70th anniversary, it was decided to hold the Hiroshima Reconstruction Exposition.Hiroshima Along with the opening of the Peace Memorial Museum, it was also decided that the castle tower would be rebuilt as the centerpiece of the exposition. Construction had already begun at this time, and the Hiroshima Castle Folk Museum (currently the museum) opened in June 1958. From 1989 to 1994, the 400th anniversary of the construction of the castle and the 100th anniversary of the city's establishment saw renovations to the castle, restoration of the Ninomaru, and purification of the moat.
In 2006, it was designated as one of Japan's 100 Famous Castles. The current Hiroshima Castle castle tower, which was rebuilt, has become increasingly obsolete, so earthquake-proofing and rebuilding the castle with a wooden structure are being considered.
Read biographies of people related to Hiroshima Castle
- Terumoto MouriPrince of the Chugoku region
- During the Sengoku period, there was a feudal lord from Aki Province (present-day Hiroshima Prefecture) in the Chugoku region who grew to become a powerful force, Motonari Mori. Mori Motonari's grandson was Terumoto Mori. Terumoto was in conflict with Oda Nobunaga, who rose to prominence in the Tokai and Kinki regions, and then with Toyota, who rose to prominence.
- Masanori FukushimaSeven spears of Shizugatake
- During the Sengoku period, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was a military commander who became a ruler after Oda Nobunaga was defeated in the Honnoji Incident. Many young people served Hideyoshi as pages. These include Kiyomasa Kato, Mitsunari Ishida, and Masanori Fukushima. Masanori Fukushima was born in Owari Province and was a relative of Hideyoshi.
- Motonari Moriconspiracy god
- Throughout the Sengoku period, there was a feudal lord from Aki Province (present-day Hiroshima Prefecture) in the Chugoku region who grew to become a powerful force, the Mori clan. At the beginning of the Sengoku period, Motonari Mori was born into the Mori clan, a small wealthy family in Aki Province. Motonari had many hardships from an early age and became a powerful force.
The history of the Hiroshima domain, with Hiroshima Castle as the domain office.
| Domain office | Hiroshima castle |
|---|---|
| old area | Hiroshima, Aki District, Aki Province |
| stone height | 426,000 koku |
| Fudai/Tozama | Foreigner |
| main lord | Fukushima family, Asano family |
| Estimated population | 910,000 people (first year of the Meiji era) |
Hiroshima Castle, also known as "Carp Castle", is a symbol of Hiroshima
Hiroshima Castle is a symbol of Hiroshima. Built by Mori Terumoto in what is now Hiroshima City, it is also known by the nickname "Koi Castle." According to one theory, the area where the castle was built was called "Koinoura," and this is where the name "Hiroshima Toyo Carp" comes from (Carp means carp in English).
- History of Hiroshima Castle
- Hiroshima Castle was started to be built in 1589 by Mori Terumoto, one of the Five Elders. Until then, the Mori clan's base had been Yoshida-Koriyama Castle (present-day Yoshida-cho, Akitakata City, Hiroshima Prefecture), but Yoshida-Koriyama Castle was a mountain castle with poor transportation access. In addition, the era was changing from mountain castles to "modern castles" that were located in places with good access to land and sea transportation, and had castle towers and the lord's residence surrounded by stone and earthen walls. Terumoto was greatly influenced by a visit to Osaka Castle, a prime example of this, and is said to have decided to build a new base.
The area around Hiroshima Bay was chosen as the new base, and the site of the castle was decided on the mountains in the delta of the Ota River. The land that was called "Goka" at the time was named "Hiroshima."
The castle tower was completed in 1591, and Terumoto moved into the castle. According to historical documents from the Edo period, the castle tower was a five-story, five-storey watchtower-style tower, with a three-story, three-storey smaller tower connected by a connecting tower. However, apart from the main parts such as the inner citadel, the castle was left unfinished. The stone walls were completed in 1593, and the castle grounds were finally completed in 1599.
Terumoto, who served as the commander-in-chief of the Western Army at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, was reduced to the provinces of Suo and Nagato (Yamaguchi Prefecture). In his place, Fukushima Masanori was given the provinces of Aki and Bingo and entered Hiroshima Castle. Masanori renovated and built Hiroshima Castle following the great flood of 1617, and the outer wall of Hiroshima Castle was developed at this time.
However, Masanori carried out the construction work before receiving permission from the shogunate, which angered the second shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada, and he was stripped of his title. In his place, Asano Nagaakira, lord of Wakayama Castle, was given an increased fief and transferred to Hiroshima Castle, and was granted 426,500 koku of land in the province of Aki and eight counties in Bingo. From then on, Hiroshima was ruled by the Asano clan until the Meiji era.
After the Meiji Restoration, the prefectural office and military facilities were located here, and during the Sino-Japanese War, the Imperial Headquarters was established here. As a result of these developments, the buildings from the Edo period were demolished or destroyed by fire, but the castle tower, Higashi-Hashiri-Yagura, Omote-Miomon Gate, Naka-Miomon Gate, and Ninomaru-Hira-Yagura tower were left standing. In 1931, the castle tower was designated a national treasure.
However, the atomic bomb dropped on August 6, 1945 destroyed the castle tower, located about 1km from the hypocenter, and other buildings were burned down. The castle tower was rebuilt in 1951, when a simple wooden replica was built in conjunction with the Sports and Culture Exposition held prior to the 6th National Athletic Meet. The castle tower was dismantled after the National Athletic Meet ended, but in response to requests from citizens, its exterior was restored in 1958 using reinforced concrete. In addition, the Omote-myomon Gate, Hira-yagura, Tamon-yagura, and Taiko-yagura towers in Ninomaru were also restored in wood by 1994. - Highlights of Hiroshima Castle #1: The castle tower scheduled for demolition
- The current castle tower, made of reinforced concrete, opened in 1958 as the site of the Hiroshima Restoration Exposition, and the interior was later converted into a museum called Hiroshima Castle Local History Museum. The exhibits were renewed in 1989, and remain so to this day.
Inside the museum, there are exhibits related to Hiroshima Castle and the successive castle lords, and highlights include armor and swords associated with Hiroshima, the Asano family's horse crest "Ajikin gold leaf Chinese hat-shaped horse crest," and gold leaf Shachi roof tiles excavated near the castle. There is also an experience corner on the first floor where you can try on helmets and jinbaori (Japanese battle robes). From the observation deck on the fifth floor, you can see the Hiroshima cityscape including the Atomic Bomb Dome, and on clear days you can also see the World Heritage Site Miyajima.
Due to problems with aging and earthquake resistance, Hiroshima Castle is currently being planned to be demolished and restored using wood. The demolition method and other details are expected to be decided in 2024, so keep an eye on future developments. - Hiroshima Castle's highlights ② Stone walls
- At Hiroshima Castle, you can see the stone walls of the Mori period, which were made with rough stonework on the castle tower base, and the stone walls of the Fukushima and Asano periods, which were made with uchikomi-hagi (pile-cut stonework). The highlight of the castle is the broken stone wall of the main citadel, which is said to have been demolished by Fukushima Masanori.
Masanori was reprimanded for repairing and renovating the castle without permission from the shogunate, but the shogunate first ordered, "We will allow the unauthorized repairs, but in exchange, you must demolish the renovated parts of the castle." The stone wall that was demolished at that time is said to be this part, but since the renovations were done in a different place, Masanori was ultimately stripped of his title.
By the way, when you look at Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine from Sannomaru, you can see the stone walls along the moat that are a mixture of buildings from the Mori and Fukushima periods, and it is said to be one of the places that has been restored without permission.
Additionally, there are over 200 engravings of 39 different types remaining on the stone walls of Hiroshima Castle, so it is a good idea to explore while searching for them. - Highlights of Hiroshima Castle 3: Reconstructed wooden buildings in Ninomaru
- In Ninomaru, there are the wooden Omote-mikado Gate and Gomon Bridge, the Hira-yagura, Tamon-yagura, Taiko-yagura, and the west wall, which were restored between 1989 and 1994 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the construction of Hiroshima Castle. You can also tour the inside of the yagura. The castle has been restored based on excavation surveys, old photographs taken before the war, and remaining blueprints, giving a glimpse of its former appearance.
- Highlights of Hiroshima Castle #4: Atomic bombed trees
- There are three types of "a-bombed trees" remaining in Hiroshima Castle that survived the damage caused by the atomic bomb and continue to survive to this day. They are the eucalyptus and round willow at the site of the Ninomaru, and the Japanese silverleaf at the site of the Imperial Headquarters. They are symbolic of the postwar reconstruction and still have lush green leaves today.
- Hiroshima Castle photo spot
- If you want to take a photo of the castle tower, we recommend taking it from across the moat. On a windless day, the water acts as a mirror, allowing you to take photos of the "upside-down castle." The night illumination is also a fantastic sight.
- WriterNaoko Kurimoto(Writer)I am a former travel industry magazine reporter. I have loved history, both Japanese and world history, since I was a child. I usually enjoy visiting temples and shrines, especially shrines, and often do ``pilgrimages to sacred places'' themed around historical figures. My favorite military commander is Ishida Mitsunari, my favorite castle is Kumamoto Castle, and my favorite castle ruins is Hagi Castle. My heart flutters when I see the ruins of battle castles and the stone walls of castle ruins.
Traveler
Introducing travelers photographed at Hiroshima Castle
HighlightsSightseeing Spots
- MAZDA Zoom-Zoom StadiumHiroshima
- Home of the Hiroshima Carp
- look
- Atomic Bomb DomeHiroshima
- Feeling the horror of the atomic bomb and the importance of peace
- look
- Okonomiyaki MitchanHiroshima
- A long-established company founded 67 years ago
- eat
- MiyajimaHiroshima
- World Heritage Sacred Island
- look
- Itsukushima shrineHiroshima
- A World Heritage shrine floating on the sea
- look
- Daiganji TempleHiroshima
- An ancient temple where one of Japan's three great Benzaiten goddesses is enshrined
- look
- Daisho-in TempleHiroshima
- The head temple of the Omuro school of Shingon Buddhism
- look
Hiroshima Castle Column
A column by castle, temple and shrine enthusiasts
