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Maruoka , the Oldest of its Kind Remaining

Kasumi-cho, Maruoka-cho, Sakai City

The that remains at the castle site is the oldest of its kind, over 430 years old and built during the time of Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Winter view from the castle

Maruoka Kojō Festival Parade① Stone monument inscribed with Honda Sakuzaemons higetsugu’s famous ippitsu keijō

Maruoka Castle’s Winter Light-up

Maruoka Castle, Oldest in Japan (Nationally Designated Important Cultural Property) The castle grounds house an inscription bearing the words of Honda Sakuzaemonshigetsugu, loyal retainer to Tokugawa Iyeyasu. Written from the front to his wife, it is famous both for its contents and brevity (it is an ippitsu Maruoka Castle, located in present-day Sakai City, was built in 1576 by Shibata Katsutoyo as a branch castle for keijō, the shortest form of letter in Japanese). In conjunction with this, a contest has been held every year since 1993

Fukui’s Kitanoshō Castle. The remaining watchtower is the oldest of its kind in Japan. in which entrants submit their letter, written in this style. The contest is meant to revive this traditional form of letter

Around the castle grounds are planted 400 writing and ensure its survival as an aspect of Japanese culture. Nearby Kasumi ga Jō Park features ippitsu keijō

yoshino cherry trees. When they bloom in accompanied by paintings on kamaboko-ita, often referred to as “Japan’s smallest canvas.” Every October the Maruoka

Castle Festival features processions of participants in samurai armor and children dressed as “little daimyo” lords, April, the blossoms make it appear as though allowing festivalgoers to relive Japan’s history. the castle watchtower is floating in mist. From Maruoka Castle this the castle derives its other name, Kasumi ga Jō (Mist Castle). Though its inner has since been filled and turned to roadways, much of the outer moat remains in the form of restored waterways, flowing as quietly as they did when the castle was built.

250m 地図出典：国土地理院発行２万５千分の１地形図 Maruoka Castle Outer Moat Remains Ippitsu keijō and kamaboko-ita artwork② Photos①～② courtesy of Sakai City