kagoshima

Kōyama Castle (高山城 Kōyamajō) is a mountain castle in Kimotsuki located in the centre of Ōsumi Peninsula (大隅半島). It was the base of the local Kimotsuki clan who ruled this area until the end of the Sengoku Period and is also known as Kimotsuki Castle (肝付城 Kimotsukijō). The castle is a National...

Shibushi Castle (志布志城 Shibushi-jō) is a mountain castle (山城 yamajirō) located in Shibushi City in eastern Kagoshima (former Hyūga Province 日向国). A thriving port engaged in trade with foreign powers, the feudal lords of southern Kyūshu fought intense battles for its control in the Nanboku-chō...

Kamo Castle (蒲生城 Kamou-jō) is a mountain castle located in Kamou Town, Aira City, about 7 kilometres northwest of the innermost part of Kinko Bay. It is located on Mt. Ryuga (龍ヶ山 Ryūgayama, lit. "Dragon Mountain"), which overhangs to the north, across the river of the city. It is a typical...

Kiyoshiki Castle (清色城 Kiyoshiki-jō) is a former hilltop castle located in Irikicho, Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture. It is not clear when Kiyoshiki Castle was constructed. It is assumed that it was built sometime after the Shibuya clan moved from Sagami to Satsuma, following the Battle of...

Kagoshima Castle (鹿児島城, Kagoshima-jō), also known as Tsurumaru Castle (鶴丸城), is located in Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, and was the headquarters of the Shimazu clan. In 1601, one year after the Battle of Sekigahara, the 18th head of the Shimazu clan, Tadatsune (島津忠恒, 1576-1638)...

The ruins of Ei Castle (頴娃城跡 Ei jōseki) are located in Minamikyūshū, Kagoshima. The castle site was designated a Historic Site of Kagoshima Prefecture in 2005. History Driving through the southern part of Satsuma Penisula from Makurazaki to Ibusuki, there is a 2-kilometre wide short corridor...

Chiran Castle (知覧城, Chiran-jō) is a former castle complex in Chiran, Kagoshima Prefecture. Chiran was a town located in the Kawabe district. Chiran and the towns of Kawabe (川辺) and Ei (頴娃) were merged into Minamikyūshū (南九州) city in 2007. As seen in the aerial picture above, Chiran Castle was...

Izaku Castle (伊作城 Izaku-jō) is a castle complex in the town of Hioki, Kagoshima Prefecture, that was constructed in the 13th century. It served as the headquarters of the Shimazu clan until 1536 when Shimazu Takahisa relocated his base to Ichiūji Castle. (一宇治城) History: Izaku Castle itself...

Ichiūji Castle (一宇治城 Ichiūji-jō) is a former castle complex located in Hioki City, Kagoshima Prefecture. At the beginning of the Kamakura Period, Ki no Shiro Tokikiyo (紀四朗時清), also known as Ijūin Tokikiyo (伊集院時清) was appointed governor of Ijūin County. He constructed Ichiuji Castle where he...

Kajiki Castle (加治木城 Kajiki-jō) was a mountain castle in former Ōsumi Province (modern-day eastern Kagoshima Prefecture) which had been used from the Nanboku-chō Period (1336-1392) to the Sengoku Period. It is located on a plateau which pushes out southwest towards the Kajiki Plain (加治木の平), the...