Japanese Castle guide in Japan castle Historical site Statue Introduction.

[Castle name]
Nagaoka Castle

[Description]
Nagaoka Castle was a flat land castle in current Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture.
In the early Warring States period, the Nagao family, which was the governor of Echigo Province, built Zaodo Castle.

After Nagao Kagenobu died in Otate disturbance (a domestic trouble on who will succeed Kenshin), the area came to be ruled by Uesugi Kagekatsu.
In 1598, Hideyoshi transferred him to Aizu. Alternately, Hori Chikayoshi, a brother of Hori Hideharu, got in charge of the castle with 40000 kokus estate.

However in 1610, after Tokugawa Ieyasu got all of Japan, the Hori family deprived of part of its estate because of its domestic trouble about the heir. The area came to be ruled by the 6th son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Matsudaira Tadateru.
In 1616, Ieyasu fought with Toyotomi Hideyori in Siege of Osaka. Matsudaira Tadateru made a mistake in the battle and was deprived of his territory and his status.

Then, in Zaodo Castle, the Hori family (Hori Naoyori) became the head again with 80000 kokus estate.
Zaodo Castle was vulnerable to floods of Shinano River, so Naoyori built a new castle in Nagaoka, which was in some distance from Zaodo Castle. He established Nagaoka Domain and developed the castle town.
In 1618, Hori Naoyori was transferred to Echigo Murakami. Instead, a Fudai lord Makino Tadanari got in charge of the castle with 60000 kokus estate.

The Makino family was assigned to an important role as a Fudai lord in Echigo Province and got additional 7400 kokus estate. It ruled the area until the Meiji Restoration. At the end of the Edo period, its chief retainer Kawai Tsuginosuke tried to resist to the new government army composed of Satsuma Domain and Choshu Domain. He fought over Shinano River.

※Kawai Tsuginosuke

However, Nagaoka Castle was attacked by Yamagata Aritomo’s warship of Choshu Domain. It burned out and Nagaoka Domain surrendered.
In the 1st year of the Meiji period, the domain was forgiven, but its estate was reduced to 24000 kokus. Regarding of Kawai Tsuginosuke, he fought well using the latest army, but finally was defeated. He died on the way Aizu for a wound which he got in the battle.

Now, Nagaoka station stands at the place where the castle stood. There are few traces of it, but the stone wall is used as a base of Nagaoka City Local Museum.

※Nagaoka City Local Museum

[Address,access]
1 Ote Dori, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture 940-0062

[Map]