Japanese Castle guide in Japan castle Historical site Statue Introduction.

[Castle name]
Imabari Castle
Three Greatest Water Castle In Japan, Takatora Todo build a famous castle, Imabari Castle

[Description]
Imabari castle is a water castle currently located in Imabari-shi, Aichi. Takatora Todo, who became a feudal lord after the battle of Sekigahara, repaired the castle with full-scale modern wall. This is one of three greatest water castles in
Japan. It is said that Satoru Watanabe who was famous for “Spear’s Kanbei” was a commissioner in the castle.

The water castle was constructed so that it would draw water into the moat from the sea, and warships were able to enter and exit from the sea. The walls of Homnaru and Ninomaru only had high stone fences toward the sea and earthwork on the shore. In 1609, Takatora was transferred to Tsu, Ise; and Takatora’s son in-law, Takayoshi, bought Imabari castle for 20,000 koku. (About 3,000 tons of rice)

In 1635, Takayoshi was transferred to Nabari and Sadafumi Matsudaira from Nagashima, so Ise took over the castle until the Meiji Restoration era. Imabara’s water castle was destroyed by the laws to remove deserted castles during the Meiji era, but was rebuilt as Tenshu of Gojo during the Showa era. Also steel gray gates and a tower called Tamon Yagura were built. Other stone walls and moat still survive.

The statue of Takatora Todo at Honmaru. Imabari castle is number 79 of Japan’s Top 100 Castles.

[Address,access]
3 Chome-1-3 Tōrichō Imabari-shi, Ehime-ken 794-0036

[Map]