Takamatsu Castle (Sanuki)
A coastal castle with seawater moats, key to Sanuki Province.
Takamatsu Castle, also known as Tamamo Castle, is a Japanese castle located in central Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku. It served as the headquarters of the Takamatsu Domain, which ruled eastern Sanuki Province from 1588 to 1869. The castle is notable for its seawater moats, one of only three such castles in Japan, and has been a National Historic Site since 1955.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan
- Controlled By
- Ikoma clan (until 1640) / Matsudaira clan (1642-1869)
- Open To Public
- Tamamo Park
- Site Area
- 79,587 km / 2 / (originally 660,000 km / 2 / )
- In Use
- 1588-1874
- Builder
- Ikoma Chikamasa
- Materials
- Wood, stone, plaster
- Condition
- Archaeological and designated national historical site; castle ruins, a gate and three yagura remain.
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Takamatsu Castle was built on the coast of the Seto Inland Sea, in front of Takamatsu port, after Toyotomi Hideyoshi assigned Ikoma Chikamasa as ruler of Sanuki. The Ikoma first established their stronghold at Hiketa Castle, but in 1588 Ikoma Chikamasa selected a more central location for a new castle, completed by 1590. The castle was a 'sea castle' with the ocean forming one side of its defenses, covering an area of 400 by 200 meters, with a small inner bailey of 50 by 20 meters reachable only by bridge.
Reader's Guide
Takamatsu Castle's significance lies in its strategic coastal location and its role as the seat of the Takamatsu Domain for nearly three centuries. It was one of only three Japanese castles to use seawater moats, alongside Imabari Castle and Nakatsu Castle. After the Meiji restoration, the castle was turned over to the Imperial Japanese Army, and its tenshu was destroyed in 1884 due to aging. Several surviving structures, including the Kita-no-Maru Tsukimi Yagura and the Hiunkaku villa, have been designated as National Important Cultural Properties. The castle grounds opened to the public in 1955 and were listed among Japan's Top 100 Castles in 2006. Today, it remains a park and a notable historic site in Kagawa Prefecture.
Did You Know?
- Takamatsu Castle is one of only three Japanese castles with seawater moats, along with Imabari Castle and Nakatsu Castle.
- The castle's inner bailey, containing the three-story tenshu, was only 50 by 20 meters and could be reached only by bridge.
- The tenshu was destroyed in 1884 due to aging, not by war or demolition.
- The Sakuragomon gate burned down during World War II air raids and was rebuilt in 2022.
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