CastleHilltop castle (hirayamajiro)Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 58
What makes this castle distinctive
From the station platform you can see two three-story turrets standing at either end of a long stone wall.
Why?
Akashi Castle is a five-minute walk north of the station. It never had a keep; instead, two turrets on the high walls of the main enclosure, Tatsumi Yagura and Hitsujisaru Yagura, are its signature. They are two of only twelve surviving Edo-period three-story turrets in Japan, and both are Important Cultural Properties.[1][3][5][4]
The southeast (Tatsumi) and southwest (Hitsujisaru) corners of the main enclosure; both can be seen side by side from the open lawns to the south.
What to look at
How the two roofs face different ways. Hitsujisaru is a size larger than Tatsumi and turns its broad side to the west.
Why it's interesting
Hitsujisaru is said to have come from Fushimi Castle and Tatsumi from Funage Castle. With no keep at Akashi, Hitsujisaru, the biggest turret, stood in for one. The park explains that its broad side was turned west to impress the lords of western Japan, and that the two turrets were deliberately set at different angles so the castle would not look weak from any direction.[3][5][6][7]
Can you see it?
Partly visibleAlways visible from outside. Interiors open only on special days: Tatsumi in spring, Hitsujisaru in autumn, weekends and holidays 10:00–16:00.
The north side of the main enclosure, just north of Hitsujisaru Yagura.
What to look at
The sheer size of the base, and the bottom of a stone hokyoin-to pagoda reused as the first step up.
Why it's interesting
The base measures 25 m east–west and 20 m north–south, big enough for a five-tier keep, yet none was built. Nobody knows why. One idea is that a keep would have made too easy a target for cannons, and there seems to have been a plan to move the keep of Nakatsu Castle in Oita here.[3]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideInside the park; free to climb.
The 380-meter high wall and its two kinds of stone
Where
The south face of the main and second enclosures, seen from the lawns of the third enclosure below.
What to look at
The difference between whitish granite and the later tuff (Tatsuyama stone) repairs, and the corners of the turret bases chiseled to sharp edges in the Edo-kiri style.
Why it's interesting
The wall runs 380 m east to west and stands about 20 m above the third enclosure. The sections first built by the shogunate are mostly granite, while later reinforcements by the Akashi domain are mostly tuff, so the stone itself shows when each part was built. Part of the wall collapsed in the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and has since been repaired.[3][4]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideFree to view from inside the park.
At a glance for visitors
Nearest station
5 min walk from JR / Sanyo Electric Railway Akashi Station
Climb
Some climbing
Time neededEditors' estimate
About an hour to walk around the castle site; allow 1.5 hours on a turret-opening day.
Admission
Not confirmed (no fee is mentioned in official notices).
Hours
Weekends and national holidays only, 10:00–16:00 (you must leave by 16:00). Tatsumi in spring (March–May); Hitsujisaru in autumn (third Saturday of September to second Sunday of December; September 19 – December 13 in 2026).
Access
Open to visitors
The castle site is Hyogo Prefecture's Akashi Park and is free to explore. The turret interiors open only on special viewing days (no reservation; follow the guides' instructions). Openings may be cancelled at short notice in rain, even light rain, or bad weather.
Akashi already had Funage Castle, but it was torn down under the 1615 "one province, one castle" rule. Lords loyal to the Toyotomi were still strong in western Japan, so in 1618 the second shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada, ordered Ogasawara Tadamasa, newly placed at Akashi, to build a castle that would guard Kyoto and Osaka together with Himeji and Amagasaki. Of three candidate sites, Hitomaruyama hill was chosen, commanding both the Saigoku highway and the Akashi Strait.[2][8]
02
Historical record
Built in under a year at shogunate expense
Work began in January 1619. The shogunate paid 1,000 kan of silver and sent three commissioners. Until August the shogunate handled the earthworks, stone walls and moats; from September the Akashi domain raised the turrets, palace and gates. The main palace was finished by year's end and Tadamasa moved in, and by 1620 four three-story turrets stood in the main enclosure. His father-in-law, Honda Tadamasa, lord of Himeji, was closely involved in the design.[2][4]
03
Tradition
Four turrets instead of a keep
Three-story turrets stood at the four corners of the main enclosure, but although a large keep base was built, no keep followed. Edo-period local histories such as the Akashi-ki say the street plan of the castle town was laid out by the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.[3][8]
04
Historical record
A golden palace burns; lords come and go
In 1631, twelve years after completion, a fire from the kitchen in the third enclosure destroyed the main palace and other buildings; the park describes it as a lavish palace covered in gold leaf. When the Ogasawara moved to Kokura in 1632, a series of families followed, including the Matsudaira, Okubo and Honda. From 1682, the Matsudaira line of Naoakira, who came from Ono in Echizen, ruled for ten generations until the Meiji era.[2][4]
05
Historical record
The castle became a park; two turrets remained
The castle was decommissioned in 1873 and its buildings were sold off in 1875. In 1883 local people leased the land from the state and opened a park, which became Hyogo Prefecture's Akashi Park in 1918. Of the four three-story turrets, Tatsumi and Hitsujisaru survived and were designated Important Cultural Properties in 1957. The park area was hit by bombs in a 1945 air raid.[2]
06
Historical record
Earthquake repairs and national protection
The 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake toppled and bulged sections of the walls and damaged the turrets. Repairs used hikiya, a method of moving a whole building intact, and when work finished in 2000 the earthen wall between the two turrets was rebuilt as well. The castle site became a National Historic Site in 2004 and one of Japan's 100 Fine Castles in 2006.[2][3][9]
Tokugawa Hidetada orders Ogasawara Tadamasa to build the castle[2]
Construction begins; the main palace is finished by year's end and Tadamasa moves in from Funage Castle[2]
Fire destroys the main palace and other buildings[2]
Matsudaira Naoakira arrives; his family rules for ten generations until Meiji[2][1]
Tatsumi and Hitsujisaru turrets become Important Cultural Properties[2][3]
The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake damages walls and turrets (repairs finished 2000)[2]
The castle site is designated a National Historic Site[2][3]
Buildings and remains
The keep today
No keep was built
A keep base was built but no keep was ever raised; the Japan Castle Foundation lists only the keep base. Hitsujisaru Yagura served in place of a keep.
The site today
The castle site is Hyogo Prefecture's Akashi Park, where the stone walls and moats of the main and second enclosures survive well; the park also contains libraries and sports facilities. The moat in front of the station was the castle's inner moat; the outer moat ran near today's Route 2.
Main buildings
OriginalImportant Cultural Property
Hitsujisaru Yagura (southwest turret)
Three-story turret said to have been moved from Fushimi Castle; the 1982 overhaul confirmed from its structure that it had been relocated.[3][4]
OriginalImportant Cultural Property
Tatsumi Yagura (southeast turret)
Three-story turret said to have come from Funage Castle. It burned in 1628 or 1631 and was rebuilt in the Edo period; repaired after the 1995 earthquake by moving it intact.[3]
The castle's main gate, a box-shaped entrance; today it is the main entrance to Akashi Park.[3]
Key facts
Type
Castle
Setting
Hilltop castle (hirayamajiro)built on a low hill rising from the plainEditorial article
Period
Early modern (1570s–1871)Editorial article
Keep (tenshu)
No keep was builtthe castle never had a keepEditorial article
Built by
Ogasawara Tadazane (Tadamasa)Japan Castle Foundation
Built
1619Japan Castle Foundation
Main lords
Honda clan, Matsudaira clan, Ogasawara clanJapan Castle Foundation
Abandoned
1874Wikipedia (ja)
Remains to see
Turrets or turret bases, Stone walls, Moats, Gates, Baileys / enclosures (kuruwa), Fortified gateways (koguchi), Keep base (tenshudai)Editorial article
Designation
Important Cultural Properties (Tatsumi and Hitsujisaru turrets) (1957); National Historic Site (Akashi Castle ruins) (2004)Editorial article
Selection
Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 58Japan Castle Foundation
Visiting
Access
Open to visitors
The castle site is Hyogo Prefecture's Akashi Park and is free to explore. The turret interiors open only on special viewing days (no reservation; follow the guides' instructions). Openings may be cancelled at short notice in rain, even light rain, or bad weather.
JR / Sanyo Electric Railway Akashi StationJR Kobe Line (Sanyo Line) and Sanyo Electric Railway; from the Shinkansen at Nishi-Akashi, 5 minutes on JR
about 5 min walk · Some climbing
From the North Exit, walk 5 minutes north to the park's main entrance. Slopes and stone steps lead up to the main enclosure.[5][6]
Checked: 2026-10-03
Hours and admission
Special openings of the turrets
Hours
Weekends and national holidays only, 10:00–16:00 (you must leave by 16:00). Tatsumi in spring (March–May); Hitsujisaru in autumn (third Saturday of September to second Sunday of December; September 19 – December 13 in 2026).
Closed
Weekdays. May be cancelled in rain (including light rain) or bad weather.
Admission
Not confirmed (no fee is mentioned in official notices).[5][6]
Checked: 2026-10-03
By car / parking
About 10 minutes from Ookuradani IC or 15 minutes from Tamatsu IC on the Daini-Shinmei Road. The park's South lot (366 cars, open 24 hours, 200 yen per 30 minutes, daily cap 800 yen weekdays / 1,000 yen weekends and holidays) and North lot (134 cars, 7:30–21:00, free under 30 minutes, 550 yen up to 5 hours). No disability discount.[7]
Checked: 2026-10-03
Grounds opening hours
No set park opening hours were found (the South parking lot is open 24 hours).[7]Checked: 2026-10-03
Time neededEditors' estimate
About an hour to walk around the castle site; allow 1.5 hours on a turret-opening day.
Steps, slopes and footing
From the park entrance, slopes and steps climb to the main enclosure, which sits about 20 m above the third enclosure.[3]
Wheelchairs and strollers
The Akashi Tourism Association publishes a wheelchair route to the turrets (PDF). There is an accessible toilet near the turrets, and the park has a five-space accessible parking lot (9:00–16:00; show your disability certificate).[6][7]Checked: 2026-10-03
Toilets and rest
There is an accessible toilet near the turrets.[6]
English signs / audio guide
The Akashi Park website has English pages. The Akashi Castle website shows English menu labels, but its content is in Japanese. Whether volunteer guides on opening days speak English is not confirmed.[10][1]
Seasons
Tatsumi Yagura opens in spring and Hitsujisaru in autumn. The castle's elegant name, Kishun-jo ("castle that delights in spring"), is also said to reflect its beauty in spring.[5][4]
Photography
Not confirmed
Works, closures and restrictions
The 2026 autumn opening of Hitsujisaru Yagura runs on weekends and holidays from September 19 to December 13, 10:00–16:00.[5][6]Checked: 2026-10-03
Editors' guide
An editorial guide based on sources and confirmed information — not a first-hand visit report.
Who will enjoy it
Good for travelers with time between trains, anyone who wants to see genuine Edo-period turrets, and those who like comparing stonework and types of stone.
What makes it interesting
The two three-story turrets at either end of the high wall, seen from the lawns to the south. Climb the keep base to feel how much room there was for a five-tier keep.
Before you go
There was never a keep. The turrets open only on spring and autumn weekends and holidays, and rain can cancel them. Park parking is paid.
Ways to enjoy it
Start by viewing the castle from the station platform. On the walls, look for the whitish original granite and the later tuff repairs. On Hitsujisaru opening days, volunteer guides show visitors around.
Photos
Visitor reviews
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Open questions
That Hitsujisaru came from Fushimi and Tatsumi from Funage is traditional; for Hitsujisaru, the 1982 overhaul found structural evidence that it had been moved from elsewhere.
Why no keep was built is unknown.
Miyamoto Musashi's role in laying out the town comes from Edo-period local histories.
Turret dimensions differ slightly between the castle and park websites. The fee for turret openings, photo rules and park opening hours could not be confirmed.
KishujiRapidCC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons
