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Sasayama Castle Ooshoin

The castle was built by Takatora Todo, and the Ooshoin(main building), restored in 2000, is the symbol of Tamba Sasayama.

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This flat mountain castle was built in 1609 as part of the "Tenka Fuchin" project, in which various feudal lords in the western part of Japan were mobilized to build the castle under the master builder, Takatora Todo's layout. The castle was built very solidly, partly as a preparation against the western provinces. However, it is said that the castle was so well defended that the Shogunate was wary of it and did not build a castle tower.

Instead, the Ooshoin was built in Ninomaru, and became as magnificent as the largest building inside the Ninomaru Palace of Nijo Castle, the Tou-Samurai. Although it remained intact after the Meiji Restoration, it was destroyed by fire in 1944. However, it was rebuilt in 2000 with donations from citizens, and is now open to the public as a historical museum.

The buildings of the Ninomaru Goten, except for the Ooshoin, could not be restored due to a lack of data. Therefore, the layout of the buildings is marked on the ruins of the palace, so that visitors can imagine what the palace used to be like in the past.

The ruins of the castle are still a popular place for citizens to relax, and the ruins of San-no-maru are the site of the Dekansho Festival. Aoyama Shrine, dedicated to the distant ancestors of the Aoyama family who were feudal lords, is also located at the site of the main castle.

Highlights

  • The famous castle was built by Takatora Todo, a master castle builder.
  • The Ooshoin is comparable in scale to the Ninomaru Palace at Nijo Castle.
  • The Ooshoin, which was destroyed by fire, was rebuilt in 2000.
  • Inside the Ooshoin is a historical museum. The upper-level room is also restored.
  • Aoyama Shrine is located at the site of the main circle.

Photos

  • Ruins of Sasayama Castle, also famous for its cherry blossoms

    Ruins of Sasayama Castle, also famous for its cherry blossoms

  • Restored Ooshoin

    Restored Ooshoin

  • Ruins of Ninomaru Palace adjacent to the Ooshoin

    Ruins of Ninomaru Palace adjacent to the Ooshoin

  • The stone walls remain as they were when the castle was built.

    The stone walls remain as they were when the castle was built.

  • Aoyama Shrine dedicated to Tadatoshi Aoyama, a distant ancestor of the Aoyama family, the feudal lord of Sasayama

    Aoyama Shrine dedicated to Tadatoshi Aoyama, a distant ancestor of the Aoyama family, the feudal lord of Sasayama

Reviews

1
  • 彤彤

    雖然看不到城堡,從護城河和石牆也能看出當時的偉大建築。

Details

Name in Japanese
篠山城大書院
Postal Code
669-2332
Address
2-3 Kitashinmachi, Tambasasayama City, Hyogo
Telephone
079-552-4500
Closed
Mondays (or the following day if a holiday), December 25 - January 1
Business hours
9:00am-5:00pm (Admission allowed until 4:30pm)
Admission
400 yen for a visit to the Ooshoin (600 yen for a common admission ticket with the Museum of History, the Aoyama Historical Village, and the Samurai Residence Amma Family Archives)
Directions
From Sasayamaguchi Station on the JR Fukuchiyama Line, take the Shinki Green Bus to the Nikaicho bus stop. 5 minutes on foot.
Credit Cards
Not accepted
Official Website
Official Website (Japanese)