Uwajima Castle

Japanese: 宇和島城 - うわじまじょう

<br /> The ruins of a castle in Marunouchi, Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture. Also known as Tsurushima Castle. It is located in a scenic spot facing Uwajima Bay, which is lined with ria coastlines, and the castle grounds spread across a hill about 80m above sea level and the surrounding area. Ninomaru surrounds the main castle at the top of the mountain, Nagatomaru and Tobeimaru are located near Sannomaru at the northern foot, Daiemonmaru is at the western foot, and the outer castle with samurai residences is separated by an inner moat. The north and west sides face the sea, and the east, south, and southwest sides are surrounded by moats that draw in seawater. There are several paths from the main castle tower that lead to the west coast, which are said to have led to boathouses and a naval base. In the Middle Ages, it was also called Itashima-Marukushi Castle, and during the Sengoku period from the Tensho to Eiroku era (1532-1570), when the Otomo forces of Bungo invaded, it is said to have been guarded by local lord Iefuji Kanmon, and in 1575 (Tensho 3), it became the castle of Saionji Nobuhisa. During the Azuchi-Momoyama period, it became the property of the Kobayakawa clan after Toyotomi Hideyoshi's subjugation of Shikoku, but later, in 1595 (Bunroku 4), Todo Takatora, who was also a master castle builder , moved to Uwajima. Takatora built a castle on the site of the medieval Itashima-Marukushi Castle, and in 1601 (Keicho 6), the castle in its current form, with a layout that resembles a scalene pentagon on its plan, was completed. Due to his achievements in the Battle of Sekigahara, Takatora was transferred to Iyo Province (Imabari), and in 1614 (Keicho 19 ), Hidemune Date, the eldest son of Date Masamune, was given 100,000 koku of rice, and the place name was changed to Uwajima. Then, during the time of the second feudal lord Munetoshi , a major renovation was carried out, and the current castle tower was completed in 1671 ( Kanbun 11). The three-tiered, three-storey tower-shaped tower is about 16m high, has highly decorative gables, and features palace architectural designs throughout. It is one of 12 remaining castle towers, and is designated as an Important Cultural Property. Of the seven gates at the southern entrance to the castle, only the Noboritachimon gate remains, and the entire castle ruins were designated a national historic site in 1937 (Showa 12), but the Otemon gate (Otemon) was burned down in an air raid during the Pacific War. It is about a 25-minute walk from JR Uwajima Station.

Source: Kodansha National Historic Site Guide Information

Japanese:

愛媛県宇和島市丸之内にある城跡。別名、鶴島城。リアス式海岸が続く宇和島湾に面する景勝地にあり、標高約80mの丘陵とその一帯に城域が広がっている。山頂の本丸を取り囲むように二の丸、北麓にある三の丸の近くには長門丸、藤兵衛丸を設け、西麓には代右衛門丸、内堀を隔てて侍屋敷のある外郭とし、北と西の1辺は海に面し、東・南・西南の3辺は濠をめぐらし、海水を引き入れていた。本丸の天守からは西海岸に抜ける間道が数本あり、舟小屋や水軍の基地に通じていたという。中世には板島丸串城とも呼ばれ、戦国期の天正～永禄年間（1532～70年）、豊後の大友勢が侵攻した頃には、土豪である家藤監物が守っていたといい、1575年（天正3）に西園寺宣久の居城となった。安土桃山時代には豊臣秀吉の四国討伐によって小早川氏の所領となったが、その後1595年（文禄4）に築城の名手でもあった藤堂高虎(とうどうたかとら)が宇和島に入った。高虎は中世にあった板島丸串城の跡に城を築き、1601年（慶長6）、平面が不等辺五角形に見える縄張りをもつ現在の姿の城が完成した。関ヶ原の戦いの功績により、高虎は伊予国府（今治）に移され、1614年（慶長19）、伊達(だて)政宗の長男秀宗が10万石で入封し、地名が宇和島と変わった。そして2代藩主宗利(むねとし)のとき、大改修が行われ、1671年（寛文11）に現在の天守が完成した。3重3階の層塔形の天守は高さ約16m、装飾性の高い破風(はふ)をもち、御殿建築の意匠が随所にみられ、現存12天守の一つで、重要文化財に指定されている。南の登城口には七つあった門のうち、上(のぼ)り立ち門が残り、城跡一帯は1937年（昭和12）に国の史跡に指定されたが、太平洋戦争の空襲で大手門（追手門）は焼失した。JR宇和島駅から徒歩約25分。

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