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Mito Castle Ruins

The Mito Tokugawa family used this castle as their residence until the end of the Edo period.

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Mito Castle is a flat mountain castle built on the top of a horse-back-shaped plateau between the Nakagawa River and Lake Senbako. The castle was the residence of the Mito clan. The Yaikuimon Gate remains in the former Honmaru. The Kodokan School is a domain school built in the former San-no-Maru, Karabori (empty moat), and Dori (earthen mound), which skillfully utilized the topography, can be seen. Recently, the reconstruction of the Otemon Gate and the Ninomaru Sumiyagura (corner turret) was completed, bringing the appearance of the old days to life.

Mito Castle is believed to have been built by Suketomo Baba in the late Heian to early Kamakura period. The castle passed from the Baba clan to the Edo and Satake clans, but after the Battle of Sekigahara, Ieyasu Tokugawa moved the Satake clan from Mito to Akita. Ieyasu's fifth son, Nobuyoshi Matsudaira (Takeda), and his tenth son, Yorinobu Tokugawa, took over the castle. In 1609, his eleventh son, Yorifusa Tokugawa, moved into the castle and became its lord. The Mito Tokugawa family began, which continued for 11 generations for about 260 years.

The castle ruins extend to the north of Mito Station on the JR Joban Line. A walking route called "Mito Gaku no Michi" starts from the station and takes visitors around the ruins of Mito Castle and historical sites associated with the Mito Clan. Mito Gaku" refers to the unique philosophy of the Mito clan that greatly influenced the Meiji Restoration, and the "Mito Gaku no Michi" is a fascinating walking route that allows visitors to experience the history of the Mito clan.

Highlights

  • The "Mito Gaku no Michi" includes the Mitsukuni (Giko) route, the Nariaki (Rekko) route, and the Yoshinobu(Shogun) route, among other recommended routes. The longest route is the Yoshinobu (Shogun) route, which is 4 km long.
  • Along the Nariaki and Yoshinobu routes is”Mito-Toshogu Shrine, which was built by Tokugawa Yorifusa to worship Ieyasu. Also along the Mitsukuni and Keiki Routes is the Mito−Komon Shrine, built on the birthplace of Mitsukuni Mito, the second lord of the domain, which is also worth a visit.
  • The reconstruction of the castle's corner turret was completed in June 2021, and the ”Excavated foundation stone” is on display, while inside the turret, visitors can view videos and other materials related to Mito Castle.
  • The ”Yakuimon Gate” is located at Mito Daiichi High School in the former Honmaru. The former Honmaru and Ninomaru are the grounds of a kindergarten, elementary school, junior high school, and high school, so please be careful when visiting or walking around.

Photos

  • Ote-mon Gate and Ote-Bashi Bridge were the main entrance to Mito Castle.
Photo Provided by: Mito City Board of education

    Ote-mon Gate and Ote-Bashi Bridge were the main entrance to Mito Castle. Photo Provided by: Mito City Board of education

  • Yakuimon Gate, a castle gate from the Satake era, was taken over by the Mito Tokugawa family.
Photo Provided by: Mito City Board of education

    Yakuimon Gate, a castle gate from the Satake era, was taken over by the Mito Tokugawa family. Photo Provided by: Mito City Board of education

  • Kodokan is one of the largest clan schools in Japan. It is also recognized as a Japanese Heritage Site.
Photo Provided by: Mito City Board of education

    Kodokan is one of the largest clan schools in Japan. It is also recognized as a Japanese Heritage Site. Photo Provided by: Mito City Board of education

  • Ruins of the empty moat of the former San-no-maru. Mito Castle was an earthen castle without stone walls.
Photo Provided by: Mito City Board of education

    Ruins of the empty moat of the former San-no-maru. Mito Castle was an earthen castle without stone walls. Photo Provided by: Mito City Board of education

  • Ote-mon Gate illuminated. Night strolling is also recommended (illumination: from sunset to 9:00pm)
Photo Provided by: Mito City Board of education

    Ote-mon Gate illuminated. Night strolling is also recommended (illumination: from sunset to 9:00pm) Photo Provided by: Mito City Board of education

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Details

Name in Japanese
水戸城跡
Postal Code
310-0011
Address
2 Sannomaru, Mito City, Ibaraki
Telephone
029-306-8132 (Mito city History Cultural Assets Division)
Hours
Walk anytime
Direction
10-minute walk from the North Exit of Mito Station on the JR Joban Line (20-minute walk for Mito Castle's Ninomaru Kakunagura)
Website
Official Website (Japanese)