Tsuzurao Castle (防己尾城 Tsuzurao-jō) is located on the Western shore of Lake Koyama in modern-day Tottori City.
It was constructed in 1579 by Yoshioka Sadakatsu (吉岡定勝, 1532-1606), a vassal of the Inaba Yamana clan.
During Oda Nobunaga's campaign in Western Honshū in 1580/81, his general Hashiba Hideyoshi, later known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, besieged Tottori Castle. The castle was originally held by Yamana Toyokuni, but had been handed over to Kikkawa Tsuneie (吉川経家, 1547-1581), a retainer of the Mōri clan. Tsuneie organised the defence of Inaba, but had to surrender 200 days into the siege after the situation of the defenders had turned desperate. Tsuneie comitted suicide to save his garrison. During the siege, Yoshioka Sadakatsu harrassed Hideyoshi with surprise attacks; legend has it in one of the skirmishes Sadakatsu's brother Ukon seized Hideyoshi's umajirushi (馬印), a battle standard carried by horses.
After the fall of Tottori Castle, Tsuzurao Castle was abandonded.
The former castle site is very easy to find. It is situated right next to the parking lot at the Western side of the lake.
The hill is very small, so it was no challenge to reach its top. There are few remnants of the former enclosures.
The view of Lake Koyama from the castle; it is a former inlet of the Sea of Japan, but became a closed lagoon after the Koyama sand dunes closed it off from the sea.
Date of visit: 14 July 2013
It was constructed in 1579 by Yoshioka Sadakatsu (吉岡定勝, 1532-1606), a vassal of the Inaba Yamana clan.
During Oda Nobunaga's campaign in Western Honshū in 1580/81, his general Hashiba Hideyoshi, later known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, besieged Tottori Castle. The castle was originally held by Yamana Toyokuni, but had been handed over to Kikkawa Tsuneie (吉川経家, 1547-1581), a retainer of the Mōri clan. Tsuneie organised the defence of Inaba, but had to surrender 200 days into the siege after the situation of the defenders had turned desperate. Tsuneie comitted suicide to save his garrison. During the siege, Yoshioka Sadakatsu harrassed Hideyoshi with surprise attacks; legend has it in one of the skirmishes Sadakatsu's brother Ukon seized Hideyoshi's umajirushi (馬印), a battle standard carried by horses.
After the fall of Tottori Castle, Tsuzurao Castle was abandonded.
The former castle site is very easy to find. It is situated right next to the parking lot at the Western side of the lake.
The hill is very small, so it was no challenge to reach its top. There are few remnants of the former enclosures.
The view of Lake Koyama from the castle; it is a former inlet of the Sea of Japan, but became a closed lagoon after the Koyama sand dunes closed it off from the sea.
Date of visit: 14 July 2013
Access:
- Address: Kanazawa, Tottori-shi, Tottori
- Transportation: a 50-minute walk from JR Sanin line Suetsune station
10 kilometres from Tottori Expressway Tottori Interchange via Prefectural Route 21 - Other sights: Tottori Castle
Tenjinyama Castle
Tottori City Sightseeing Pamphlet (Tottori Tourism Website, in English)