- Utsunomiya domainIt was counted as one of the 100 domains of Edo.
- The Utsunomiya domain was a domain that existed in Utsunomiya, Shimotsuke Province (currently Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture). This area was not only a transportation hub for the northern Kanto region, but also a stopover for the shogun when he visited Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Utsunomiya Castle, the domain office, has a shogun at Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
Utsunomiya CastleUtsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture
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- Kanto
- Tochigi Prefecture
- Utsunomiya Castle
| Other name | Kamegaoka Castle |
|---|---|
| castle construction | Late Heian period |
| address | 2-24 Honmarucho, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture |
It was first established in the Heian period when Fujiwara Soen set up his residence south of Mt. Futarasan. It was renovated in the early modern period and the Edo period, and was a flat castle with an earthwork structure that matched the outline and the echelon style.
- Transportation access to Utsunomiya Castle
- 25 minutes walk from JR Utsunomiya Station.
HISTORYUtsunomiya Castle, which was also the shogun's accommodation
Utsunomiya Castle is a flat castle located in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture. It is counted as one of the seven famous castles in the Kanto region, and was also used as a lodging by the shogun when he visited Nikko Toshogu Shrine. It was also the domain office of Utsunomiya. Let's unravel the history of Utsunomiya Castle.
- History before the construction of Utsunomiya Castle
- Utsunomiya Castle is said to have its predecessor as a residence built by a man named Fujiwara Soen south of Mt. Futara in the late Heian period. Fujiwara Soen followed Minamoto no Yoriyoshi and Minamoto no Yoshiie to Oshu during the War of the Nine Years of War, and was given the entire Kinugawa area as territory for his military exploits. From then on, the Fujiwara clan became the Utsunomiya clan, and continued to rule the area as provincial governors and shugo for approximately 530 years, through the Kamakura period, Muromachi period, and Azuchi-Momoyama period. The castle was built by the first generation, Fujiwara Soen, and after repeated additions and renovations, it became a medieval castle.
In the middle of the Sengoku period, the Utsunomiya clan's dominance declined due to repeated civil wars. Narutsuna Utsunomiya, the 17th head of the clan, caused a large-scale civil war that would later be known as the Utsunomiya Confusion, but he strengthened his ruling system and reorganized his vassals to revive the Utsunomiya clan. Afterwards, although it was invaded by the Hojo clan and its vassals who ruled the Odawara area, it maintained its independence and came under the control of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The relationship between the Utsunomiya clan and Toyotomi Hideyoshi was good, and they were given the surname Hashiba, but it was suddenly changed in 1597. Later, Hideyuki Gamo, a vassal, was given the land of Utsunomiya, and proceeded with the development of the castle town, laying the foundations for it as a commercial city. - Utsunomiya castle construction
- When Tokugawa Ieyasu won the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and became the Great Shogun, the land of Utsunomiya was given to Okudaira Iemasa, and then to Masazumi Honda in 1619. He was given 155,000 koku. Masazumi Honda was the eldest son of Masanobu Honda and was said to be the sword of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Masazumi Honda drastically renovated Utsunomiya Castle, which was a medieval castle, and transformed it into an early modern castle. Additionally, the city was divided into areas by improving Nikko Kaido and Oshu Kaido, and the castle's defense functions were improved by relocating temples and shrines within the castle along the roads.
In addition, since Utsunomiya was the route of worship to Nikko Toshogu Shrine, which enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu, we will increase and improve the palace where the shogun will stay, as well as accommodation facilities in the castle grounds. In this way, Utsunomiya came to have the functions of a temple town and a post town, creating the foundation for its prosperity throughout the Edo period.
According to the wishes of the shogunate, Utsunomiya Castle did not have a castle tower, but instead had a two-story, two-story Seimeidai turret. However, after Utsunomiya Castle was renovated, there were rumors circulating within Edo Castle that Honda Masazumi was renovating Utsunomiya Castle without following the wishes of the Shogunate, which led to the ``Utsunomiya Hanging Ceiling Incident'' that continues to be passed down to the present day. It is. There is no evidence that a suspended ceiling was built in Utsunomiya Castle. However, the shogunate punished Masazumi Honda for repairing the stone walls of Utsunomiya Castle without permission and secretly manufacturing guns.
After that, Utsunomiya Castle became the domain office of the Utsunomiya domain, and the Okudaira clan, Okudaira Matsudaira clan, Honda clan, Okudaira clan, Abe clan, Toda clan, Matsudaira Fukamizo, and other families rapidly changed hands and served as the lords of the domain. At the end of the Edo period, Utsunomiya Castle became the scene of the ``Battle of Utsunomiya'' during the Boshin War, and most of the buildings were burnt down, except for some parts, such as the clan school. In addition, about 80% of the castle town was destroyed by fire, and many temples and shrines were damaged.
The Battle of Utsunomiya was due to the fact that the former Shogunate army moved north from Edo to take up the battle with Nikko Toshogu Shrine as their base, and the ``destruction'' and ``social reforms'' that were started by farmers in the southern part of Shimotsuke also moved north, moving to Kanuma and Imaichi. This is believed to have been caused by demolition in the area. Utsunomiya Castle entered the Meiji era without being rebuilt. - Utsunomiya Castle after the Meiji era
- In the Meiji period, Utsunomiya Castle temporarily became an army garrison, but in 1890 it was sold to the private sector and developed into a park. While the castle ruins became a place for citizens to relax, the castle gates that had survived the Boshin War were dismantled, and there was no trace of the castle anymore. Even so, part of the inner moat was used for carp farming and lotus cultivation until the war. After Utsunomiya City was designated as a war-damaged city in 1946, urban development began. All remaining traces of the castle ruins in the city have disappeared, and all the water moats have been filled in.
In 2007, part of Utsunomiya Castle's main enclosure was restored and renovated as Utsunomiya Castle Ruins Park. What has been restored is part of the Honmaru earthwork, Fujimi Yagura, Seimeidai Yagura, and the earthen wall built on the earthwork. The inside of the earthwork is turned into a museum, and materials related to Utsunomiya Castle are displayed. Please note that the Kiyomidai, which replaced the castle tower, has been faithfully restored to historical facts, so you cannot normally climb it because it does not meet the Building Standards Act. - summary
- Although Utsunomiya Castle is considered one of the Seven Great Castles in the Kanto region, it was burnt down during the Boshin War, and after the war, most traces of the castle ruins disappeared as the city was renovated. However, now you can remember those days with the reconstructed earthworks and Kiyomidai. A cherry blossom festival is held every March, making it both a place of relaxation for citizens and a tourist spot.
History of the Utsunomiya domain, whose domain office is Utsunomiya Castle
| Domain office | Utsunomiya Castle |
|---|---|
| old area | Shimonokuni Utsunomiya |
| stone height | 77,000 koku |
| Fudai/Tozama | Fudai |
| main lord | Mr. Utsunomiya, Mr. Honda, Mr. Okudaira, and Mr. Toda. |
| Estimated population | 60,000 people (first year of the Meiji era) |
After many feudal lord families moved in and out, the Toda clan entered the domain. Masazumi Honda's ``Utsunomiya Castle Tsuricho Incident'' is well known.
