Japanese Castle guide in Japan castle Historical site Statue Introduction.

[Castle name]
Shimodate Castle
Mizunoya Katsuuji received Shimodate area from Yuki Ujikatsu and built it to prepare for an attack of the Utsunomiya family

[Description]
Shimodate Castle was on a plain in Honjo Town, Chikusei City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
It was built in the 10th year of the Bummei period (A.D.1478) when Mizunoya Katsuuji received Shimodate area from Yuki Ujikatsu.

He built it to prepare for an attack of the Utsunomiya family. During the Warring States period, the Mizunoya family act well and save the territory until the Edo period began.

In the 16th year of the Kan’ei period (A.D.1637), Mizunoya Katsutaka was moved to Bicchu Nariwa Domain and Matsudaira Yorishige came to the Castle. In the 19th year of the Kan’ei period (A.D.1642), Matsudaira Yorishige moved to another domain and the shogunate temporally ruled the area directly. After that, Inoue Masamine and Kuroda Naokuni ruled it. Finally, Ishikawa Fusashige came to be the head with 20000 kokus estate. The Ishikawa family reign lasted until the Meiji Restoration.

Shimodate Castle was destroyed in the 4th year of the Meiji period because the Meiji Government decided to remove castles from Japan.

[Address,access]
611 Ko, Chikusei City, Ibaraki Prefecture 308-0021

[Map]