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The keep-style building on the main enclosure site, framed by cherry blossoms (March 2018). It was built as a museum in 1975 and has been closed for renovation since December 2021.
Σ64CC BY 3.0Wikimedia Commons

Chiba · Ōtaki

Ōtaki Castle

大多喜城

Ōtaki, Chiba

CastleHilltop castle (hirayamajiro)Next 100 Fine Castles No. 121

What makes this castle distinctive

A Showa-era keep crowns the hill, yet the only building left from the Edo period is a single gate beside the entrance of the high school below.

Why?

When the castle was abolished in 1871, all of its buildings were torn down. Today's keep-shaped building went up in 1975 as a prefectural museum, and its design is what the museum calls an "estimated restoration" based on surviving records and typical Edo-period keeps. The only genuine survivor is the Yakuimon gate, moved to the site of the second enclosure, now Otaki High School.[2][7][9]

Three things not to miss

01
The three-tiered keep-style building on its stone base (March 2018). It is a reinforced-concrete structure whose look was estimated from typical Edo-period keeps.Σ64CC BY 3.0Wikimedia Commons

The keep-style museum on the main enclosure

Where
The main enclosure site (481 Otaki), at the top of the slope from the town car park below.
What to look at
The white three-tier, four-story exterior on its stone base, and the castle town spread out below the hill.
Why it's interesting
It was built in reinforced concrete in 1975 as the Chiba Prefectural Sonan Museum, now the Otaki Castle Branch of the Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba. Records are so thin that it is unclear whether Otaki Castle ever had a keep (tenshu), or what one would have looked like. The museum therefore describes the building as an "estimated restoration" modeled on surviving records and typical Edo-period keeps.[1][2][3]
Can you see it?
Partly visibleClosed for renovation since December 27, 2021, so you cannot go inside. Most of the grounds remain open, and you can photograph the building from outside.
02
The Yakuimon gate, moved to the grounds of Otaki High School (April 2025). It is the only building of Otaki Castle that survives.Higa4CC0Wikimedia Commons

Yakuimon, the castle's one surviving building

Where
Beside the entrance of Otaki High School, on the site of the second enclosure (ninomaru).
What to look at
The lord's three-fan family crest in the center of the triangular gable on the side of the gate.
Why it's interesting
Every castle building was torn down when the castle was abolished, except this gate. Its size suggests it was the gate of the lord's palace. It survived because Odaka Hanzaemon, who had worked hard on the Otaki water channel project, bought it and later donated it as the school gate of the old Otaki Middle School, today's Otaki High School. It is designated as part of the prefectural historic site.[2][8][9]
Can you see it?
Partly visibleIt stands on high school grounds. The tourism association asks visitors not to enter the school buildings and notes there is no parking at the school.
03
The Great Well in the former second enclosure, now Otaki High School (April 2025). About 17 m around, it is said to date from Honda Tadakatsu's rebuilding of the castle.Higa4CC0Wikimedia Commons

The Great Well, 17 meters around

Where
The second enclosure site, on the grounds of Otaki High School.
What to look at
The rim of the big round well and how wide it is.
Why it's interesting
The second and third enclosures are said to have had 25 wells of various sizes, and this one, about 17 m around, is by far the biggest. It is said to have been dug when Honda Tadakatsu rebuilt the castle. In the Edo period it reportedly had an octagonal frame with a roof over it, and water was drawn up with eight pulleys and 16 buckets.[8][9][2]
Can you see it?
Partly visibleOn high school grounds; you view it from outside the fence.

At a glance for visitors

Nearest station
15 min walk from Otaki Station (Isumi Railway)
Climb
Some climbing
Time neededEditors' estimate
About an hour for the main enclosure, training hall, Yakuimon gate and Great Well; allow 2–3 hours including the walk from the station and around the old town.
Admission
Closed
Hours
Closed
Access
Partly open

The museum (the keep-style building) has been closed for renovation since December 27, 2021, and you cannot go inside. Most of the grounds are open and you can take photos from outside. The training hall on the grounds hosts a free panel exhibition on Otaki Castle and its town. The Yakuimon gate and Great Well are on the grounds of Otaki High School; do not enter the school buildings. The Continued Japan 100 Castles stamp is at the Kanko Honjin tourist center in front of Otaki Station.

Checked:

View on mapOpen in Google MapsOtaki Castle Branch, Natural History Museum and Institute, ChibaOtaki Town: Otaki Castle (Japanese)

The story of this castle

01
Historical record

A prize fought over in the Boso Peninsula

In medieval documents the area is written "Odaki," so the castle was probably called Odaki Castle at first. The Takeda (Mariyatsu) family is said to have held it in the early 16th century, and between 1532 and 1555 the Masaki family, senior retainers of the Satomi clan of Awa (today's southern Chiba), took it over. For four generations it served as the seat of the main Masaki line in Kazusa (central Chiba).[1][10]

02
Historical record

Honda Tadakatsu arrives with 100,000 koku

In 1590, after Toyotomi Hideyoshi took the Hojo clan's Odawara Castle, Tokugawa Ieyasu moved to the Kanto region and gave this castle to his leading general Honda Tadakatsu, to keep the Satomi clan of Awa in check. Tadakatsu came in as lord of a 100,000-koku domain (han) and laid out both the castle and the castle town. The core of today's Otaki town dates from this time.[1][2]

03
Historical record

The castle through Spanish eyes

In 1609 a Spaniard, Don Rodrigo de Vivero, visited the castle and wrote about it. He described a castle on high ground surrounded by moats, with large gates made of iron and tight security, interiors beautifully decorated in gold and silver, and an impressive armory. The lord at the time was Tadakatsu's second son, Honda Tadatomo.[1]

04
Historical record

Many lords, and a shrinking domain

After three generations of the Honda family, the castle passed in quick succession to the Abe, Aoyama and Inagaki families, and the domain shrank from 100,000 koku to between 10,000 and 25,000. From 1703, when Matsudaira (Okochi) Masahisa arrived, the Matsudaira family held it for nine generations until the Meiji era.[1][2]

05
Historical record

Torn down in 1871; a gate and a well remain

In 1871, when domains were abolished and replaced by prefectures, Otaki Castle was abolished and its buildings demolished. What remains today includes the Yakuimon gate moved to the high school grounds, the Great Well of the second enclosure, and the remains of a tunnel of the Otaki water channel on the slope from the town up to the main enclosure. The main gate stood behind today's Otaki Station on the Isumi Railway; only a marker shows where it was.[7][2][9]

06
Historical record

A Showa-era keep on the old main enclosure

In 1966 the main enclosure site, together with the Great Well and the Yakuimon gate, became a Chiba Prefecture Historic Site. In 1975 a reinforced-concrete museum shaped like a three-tier, four-story keep opened on the site as the Prefectural Sonan Museum, displaying swords, armor and other items on the theme of the castles and castle towns of the Boso Peninsula. Since 2006 it has been a branch of the Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba. It has been closed for renovation since December 2021, and no reopening date has been announced officially.[1][3][6][7][8]

People of this castle

Timeline

  1. estimated

    The Takeda (Mariyatsu) family is said to hold the castle[1][10]

  2. Honda Tadakatsu becomes lord with 100,000 koku[1][2]

  3. The Spaniard Don Rodrigo visits and describes the castle[1]

  4. The castle is abolished and its buildings demolished[1][7]

  5. The main enclosure site, Great Well and Yakuimon gate become a prefectural historic site[8][7]

  6. The keep-shaped Prefectural Sonan Museum opens[1][7]

  7. The museum closes for renovation from December 27[3]

Buildings and remains

The keep today

Modern reconstruction

Built in 1975 as a three-tier, four-story reinforced-concrete museum. Whether the castle had a keep, and what it looked like, is unclear for lack of good records; the museum says it was an "estimated restoration" based on surviving records and typical Edo-period keeps. The Japan Castle Foundation's list gives no keep for Otaki.

The site today

The main enclosure holds the Otaki Castle Branch museum (currently closed) and its training hall. The second enclosure is now Otaki High School, and the old castle area also takes in Otaki Station on the Isumi Railway. The castle town below keeps much of its old streetscape.

Main buildings

Modern reconstruction

Keep-style building (Otaki Castle Branch museum)

Estimated restoration built in 1975. Closed since December 2021.[1][2][3]

Original, relocatedIncluded in the Chiba Prefecture Historic Site

Yakuimon gate

The castle's only surviving building, thought to be the palace gate. Now beside the entrance of Otaki High School.[2][8][9]

Site onlyIncluded in the Chiba Prefecture Historic Site

Great Well

In the second enclosure (Otaki High School grounds). About 17 m around.[8][9]

Lost

Main gate (Otemon)

Stood behind Otaki Station on the Isumi Railway; only a marker remains.[9][2]

Key facts

Type
Castle
Setting
Hilltop castle (hirayamajiro)built on a low hill rising from the plainEditorial article
Period
Medieval (c.1185–1570s), Early modern (1570s–1871)Editorial article
Keep (tenshu)
Modern reconstructiona keep rebuilt in the 20th century or later; shape or position may differ from the originalEditorial article
Built by
Mariyatsu JokanJapan Castle Foundation
Built
1521Japan Castle Foundation
Main lords
Honda clan, Matsudaira clan, Takeda clan, Satomi clan, Abe Masatsugu, Abe Masayoshi, Abe Masaharu, Inagaki ShigetomiJapan Castle Foundation
Abandoned
1871Wikipedia (ja)
Remains to see
Earthen ramparts, Moats, Trench cuts (horikiri), Baileys / enclosures (kuruwa), Wells, Stone walls, GatesEditorial article
Designation
Chiba Prefecture Historic Site (Kazusa Otaki Castle main enclosure site, with the Great Well and Yakuimon gate) (1966)Editorial article
Selection
Next 100 Fine Castles No. 121Japan Castle Foundation

Visiting

Access

Partly open

The museum (the keep-style building) has been closed for renovation since December 27, 2021, and you cannot go inside. Most of the grounds are open and you can take photos from outside. The training hall on the grounds hosts a free panel exhibition on Otaki Castle and its town. The Yakuimon gate and Great Well are on the grounds of Otaki High School; do not enter the school buildings. The Continued Japan 100 Castles stamp is at the Kanko Honjin tourist center in front of Otaki Station.

Address

481 Otaki, Otaki-machi, Isumi-gun, Chiba 298-0216[5][6]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Nearest stations and how to get there

Otaki Station (Isumi Railway)Isumi Railway Isumi Line (change from the JR Sotobo Line at Ohara)

about 15 min walk · Some climbing

About 15 minutes on foot from the station through the old town to the main enclosure, finishing with the slope up from the town car park, where you pass the old water-channel tunnel. From JR Mobara Station, take the Kominato bus bound for Otaki to Kubo and walk about 20 minutes.[5][2]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Hours and admission

Otaki Castle Branch, Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba (keep-style building)
Hours
Closed
Closed
Closed for renovation since December 27, 2021 (no reopening date announced)
Admission
Closed[3][12]
Checked: 2026-10-03
Training hall exhibition "Otaki Castle and Its Castle Town"
Hours
9:00–16:00 (running since March 14, 2022, until further notice)
Closed
Not confirmed
Admission
Free[4]
Checked: 2026-10-03

By car / parking

About 20 minutes from the Ichihara-Tsurumai IC on the Ken-O Expressway via Route 297. Park at the town-run Joka car park, about 5 minutes' walk from the main enclosure (buses also fit). Parking fees not confirmed.[5][2]

Checked: 2026-10-03
Grounds opening hours
Not confirmedChecked: 2026-10-03
Time neededEditors' estimate
About an hour for the main enclosure, training hall, Yakuimon gate and Great Well; allow 2–3 hours including the walk from the station and around the old town.
Steps, slopes and footing
The main enclosure is on a hilltop, reached by a slope from the town car park.[2]
Wheelchairs and strollers
Not confirmedChecked: 2026-10-03
Toilets and rest
Not confirmed
English signs / audio guide
The branch museum's foreign-language page has no content, and no English information could be confirmed.[12]
Seasons
In spring the main enclosure hill is covered in cherry blossoms. Every autumn the Otaki Castle Festival features a samurai procession through town led by a costumed Honda Tadakatsu.[2][7]
Photography
During the closure you can still photograph the castle from the grounds. TV and other media crews filming the exterior must contact the branch in advance, and no filming is allowed inside while it is closed.[3][13]
Works, closures and restrictions
The branch museum has been closed for renovation since December 27, 2021; as of October 3, 2026, no reopening date had been announced.[3][12][6]Checked: 2026-10-03

Around the castle

Castle town

Watanabe Family Residence

A merchant house in the castle town built in 1849, designated an Important Cultural Property as a fine example of merchant-house architecture. 126 Kubo, Otaki.[14][8]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Castle town

Ryogen-ji Temple

The family temple Honda Tadakatsu founded when he came to Otaki, with his grave. 180 Shincho, Otaki.[14]

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 fans of Honda Tadakatsu, anyone who likes to walk a castle together with its old town, and travelers pairing it with a slow ride on the Isumi Railway. The museum is closed, so if you mainly want to see the exhibits inside, wait for it to reopen.

What makes it interesting

The keep-style building on the hill is a Showa-era structure whose look is an estimate. The real traces of the castle are the Yakuimon gate and Great Well at the high school below, and the tunnel on the slope. Telling the new from the old as you walk shows how much is known about this castle and where the gaps begin.

Before you go

The branch museum has been closed since December 2021 with no announced reopening date, so check its website for the latest before you go. The Yakuimon gate and Great Well are on school grounds, so visit quietly and do not disturb classes.

Ways to enjoy it

Stamp your Continued 100 Castles book at the Kanko Honjin tourist center by Otaki Station, then walk through the old town up to the main enclosure to see how castle and town fit together. Read up on the three Honda lords and the Okochi Matsudaira family in the training hall's panel exhibition before heading down to the Yakuimon gate at the high school.

Photos

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Open questions

Sources

  1. 1
    当館について(大多喜城の歴史・歴代の城主)千葉県立中央博物館 大多喜城分館officialChecked:
  2. 2
    Q&A千葉県立中央博物館 大多喜城分館officialChecked:
  3. 3
    大多喜城分館の休館について千葉県立中央博物館 大多喜城分館officialChecked:
  4. 4
    研修館で「大多喜城と城下町」を紹介しています千葉県立中央博物館 大多喜城分館officialChecked:
  5. 5
    交通アクセス千葉県立中央博物館 大多喜城分館officialChecked:
  6. 6
    【現在休館中】大多喜城(県立中央博物館大多喜城分館)大多喜町municipalChecked:
  7. 7
    大多喜お城まつりのご紹介大多喜町municipalChecked:
  8. 8
    大多喜町の国・県指定および国登録文化財千葉県教育委員会heritageChecked:
  9. 9
    大多喜城など大多喜町観光協会tourismChecked:
  10. 10
    大多喜城(補助資料)Wikipedia日本語版otherChecked:
  11. 11
    続日本100名城 一覧公益財団法人日本城郭協会jokakuChecked:
  12. 12
    中央博物館 大多喜城分館(トップページ)千葉県立中央博物館officialChecked:
  13. 13
    ご利用案内・資料の利用千葉県立中央博物館 大多喜城分館officialChecked:
  14. 14
    名所・旧跡千葉県夷隅地域振興事務所municipalChecked:
  15. 15
    List of Japan's 100 Fine Castles and the Next 100公益財団法人日本城郭協会jokakuChecked:
  16. 16
    Wikipedia「大多喜城」Wikipedia日本語版wikipediaChecked:
  17. 17
    Wikidata Q2968402WikidatawikidataChecked:

Listing status

  1. Candidate foundChecked
  2. Confirmed as a castle siteChecked
  3. Basic informationChecked
  4. In-depth articleChecked
  5. Photo rights checkedChecked
  6. Visit info checkedChecked

Castles nearby

Mangi Castle8 km · No keep recordedFusetonodai Castle11.7 km · No keep recordedIkewada Castle12 km · No keep recordedTakafujiyama Castle12.3 km · No keep recordedOyanagikan Castle12.4 km · No keep recordedChōnan Castle12.5 km · No keep recorded

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