CastleMountain castle (yamajiro)Next 100 Fine Castles No. 138
What makes this castle distinctive
The mountain stronghold where the Kaga Ikko-ikki, the uprising whose province was said to be "ruled by farmers," held out against Oda Nobunaga's army to the very end.
Why?
For about a century, followers of the Jodo Shinshu (Ikko) Buddhist sect governed Kaga, today's southern Ishikawa Prefecture, which was said to be "a province ruled by farmers." The sect's followers at the foot of Mt. Haku held this castle under Suzuki Dewa-no-kami, and even after it fell in 1580 they fought on for two more years. They were crushed in 1582, more than 300 were crucified, and the Kaga Ikko-ikki came to an end.[1][4]
Around the main bailey on the summit of Shiroyama (312 m).
What to look at
The main bailey gate, masugata gate and Naka-no-maru gate, along with earthen banks, dry moats and palisade lines.
Why it's interesting
Excavation of the main bailey in 1993–94 revealed well-preserved building remains, and from 1997 to 2000 gates, banks, palisades and building sites were reconstructed. It makes it easy to picture what a Sengoku-period mountain castle actually looked like.[1][4]
Can you see it?
Partly visibleParts of the site collapsed in the 2022 heavy rain and the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Vehicle access reopened in June 2025, but slopes and reconstructed stone walls are still being repaired over time. Inaccessible in winter snow.
The outlines of post-built and stone-footed buildings marked on the ground.
Why it's interesting
Fifteen rounds of excavation since 1977 have found remains from both the Ikko-ikki period and the Oda period. Finds from the main bailey include a piece of gold sheet, fragments of armor, Chinese blue-and-white porcelain, tenmoku tea bowls and musket balls.[1][5]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideFinds are displayed at the Torigoe Ikko-ikki History Museum at the foot of the hill.
The valley where the Tedori and Dainichi rivers meet, and the direction of Futoge Castle on the opposite bank.
Why it's interesting
The Hakusan City tourism association says the view from Shiroyama lets you read from the terrain why such an important stronghold was built here. Across the Dainichi River lies the site of Futoge Castle, designated together with Torigoe as a National Historic Site.[2][1][6]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideThe summit is open (as of April 2026). Watch for bears.
At a glance for visitors
Time neededEditors' estimate
About an hour for the museum, plus about an hour to drive up and walk around the summit.
Admission
Adults and high school students 310 yen; junior high school students and younger free (groups of 15+ 260 yen)
Hours
9:00–16:30 (last entry 16:00)
Access
Open to visitors
The castle site is open to visitors (accessible as of April 2026). The road to the site is impassable in winter snow. The Next 100 Castles stamp is at the reception of the Torigoe Ikko-ikki History Museum; when the museum is closed, use the Torigoe Citizen Service Center (Ro-170 Betsumiya-machi, weekdays 8:30–17:15). During temporary closures for exhibition changes, the stamp is still available at reception.
Torigoe Castle is a mountain castle at the tip of hills near where the Tedori and Dainichi rivers meet. It is thought to have been built and strengthened by followers of the Honganji (Jodo Shinshu) sect at the foot of Mt. Haku as the war between Ishiyama Honganji and Oda Nobunaga intensified.[1][6]
02
Tradition
Suzuki Dewa-no-kami, lord of the castle
Tradition says the castle was built by Suzuki Dewa-no-kami, said to have been sent by Honganji. He led the sect's followers at the foot of Mt. Haku and resisted to the very end of the Ikko-ikki in southern Kaga.[2][1]
03
Historical record
The fall, and two more years of fighting
In 1580 Dewa-no-kami was lured to Matto Castle by a ruse of the Oda general Shibata Katsuie and killed, and Torigoe fell. Still the sect's followers fought on, and the castle changed hands back and forth for two years. In the third month of 1582 the resistance was wiped out and more than 300 followers were crucified, ending the Kaga Ikko-ikki.[1][2]
04
Historical record
A chain of baileys and dry moats
The castle is a chain of baileys (kuruwa), with the main bailey at the center linked to the second, third and other baileys by dry moats and narrow terraces. It consists of six baileys of various sizes divided by dry moats and banks, and excavations have confirmed remains from both the Ikko-ikki period and the Oda period.[1][5]
05
Historical record
Excavation, designation, and recovery from disaster
Thanks to excavations that began in 1977, the castle and Futoge Castle across the river became a National Historic Site in 1985. Gates and building sites were reconstructed from 1997 to 2000, and the Torigoe Ikko-ikki History Museum opened at the foot of the hill in 2001. In 2017 the castle was named one of the Next 100 Fine Castles of Japan. Heavy rain in 2022 and the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake brought down parts of the remains and the forest road; the road has been repaired, and vehicles have been able to reach the site again since June 2025.[1][3][7]
Named one of the Next 100 Fine Castles of Japan[7]
The forest road damaged by disasters is repaired; vehicle access resumes in June[1]
Buildings and remains
The keep today
No keep was built
A Sengoku-period mountain castle with no keep (the Japan Castle Foundation list shows none).
The site today
The summit is laid out as a historic park with reconstructed gates, banks, palisades and building sites. Slopes and reconstructed stone walls damaged by disasters are still being repaired. The Torigoe Ikko-ikki History Museum stands at the foot of the hill.
Main buildings
Modern reconstruction
Main bailey gate, masugata gate and Naka-no-maru gate
Reconstructed from excavation results during site improvements in 1997–2000.[1]
Site only
Post-built and stone-footed building sites in the main bailey
Building positions are marked out on the ground.[1]
Key facts
Type
Castle
Setting
Mountain castle (yamajiro)built on a mountain; expect a climbEditorial article
Period
Medieval (c.1185–1570s)Editorial article
Keep (tenshu)
No keep was builtthe castle never had a keepEditorial article
Built by
Suzuki Dewa-no-kamiJapan Castle Foundation
Built
1580Japan Castle Foundation
Main lords
Suzuki clanJapan Castle Foundation
Remains to see
Earthen ramparts, Moats, Baileys / enclosures (kuruwa), Turrets or turret bases, Gates, Stone walls, Fortified gateways (koguchi)Editorial article
Designation
National Historic Site (Torigoe Castle ruins, with Futoge Castle ruins) (1985)Editorial article
Selection
Next 100 Fine Castles No. 138Japan Castle Foundation
Visiting
Access
Open to visitors
The castle site is open to visitors (accessible as of April 2026). The road to the site is impassable in winter snow. The Next 100 Castles stamp is at the reception of the Torigoe Ikko-ikki History Museum; when the museum is closed, use the Torigoe Citizen Service Center (Ro-170 Betsumiya-machi, weekdays 8:30–17:15). During temporary closures for exhibition changes, the stamp is still available at reception.
Address
Misaka-machi, Betsumiya-machi, Kamashimizu-machi and Ueno-machi, Hakusan, Ishikawa Prefecture[1]
Checked: 2026-10-03
Hours and admission
Hakusan City Torigoe Ikko-ikki History Museum
Hours
9:00–16:30 (last entry 16:00)
Closed
Mondays (if a holiday, open and closed the next weekday), the New Year period, and exhibition changes; in 2026, temporary closures on November 17–19 and December 22–23
Admission
Adults and high school students 310 yen; junior high school students and younger free (groups of 15+ 260 yen)[3][4][8]
Checked: 2026-10-03
By car / parking
About 50 minutes south on Route 157 from Hakusan IC on the Hokuriku Expressway. The castle car park holds about 10 cars, and large and medium buses cannot reach it. The road is impassable in winter snow. The museum has parking for 48 cars, and the castle is about a 30-minute walk from there.[2][4][5]
Checked: 2026-10-03
Grounds opening hours
Not confirmedChecked: 2026-10-03
Time neededEditors' estimate
About an hour for the museum, plus about an hour to drive up and walk around the summit.
Steps, slopes and footing
The castle sits on 312 m Shiroyama; walking up from the museum takes about 30 minutes.[5]
Wheelchairs and strollers
Not confirmedChecked: 2026-10-03
Toilets and rest
Not confirmed
English signs / audio guide
The museum's website gives its English name. English guidance inside is not confirmed.[8]
To avoid bears, the city asks visitors not to climb early in the morning or in the evening, and to go in pairs or larger groups carrying a bell or radio (as of April 2026). Slopes and reconstructed stone walls damaged by disasters are still under repair.[1][9]Checked: 2026-10-03
Castle ruins across the Dainichi River from Torigoe, part of the same National Historic Site. About a 20-minute walk from the history museum to the main bailey.[1][5]
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 those interested in religion and popular resistance in the Sengoku period, and anyone who wants to see a mountain castle brought to life with reconstructed gates and palisades.
What makes it interesting
Start at the museum with its roughly 20-minute film and excavated finds to understand the Ikko-ikki story, then head up to the castle. Pass through the masugata and main bailey gates, then look at the building sites and dry moats to see the hill the sect's followers defended.
Before you go
The road is closed by snow in winter and cannot take large or medium buses. Reconstructed stone walls and other features are still being repaired after the 2022 rains and 2024 earthquake. Bear warnings are in effect. The museum closes on Mondays.
Ways to enjoy it
From the summit, compare the river junction with the site of Futoge Castle across the valley to sense how the two castles controlled it together. If you have time, climb Futoge too.
Photos
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Open questions
The founding date and builder are based on tradition (the Japan Castle Foundation lists 'before 1580' and Suzuki Dewa-no-kami). That he was sent by Honganji is also only said; another view holds that a local lord based below Futoge Castle grew in power and became Dewa-no-kami.
The photos were taken before the 2022 heavy rain and 2024 earthquake, and some parts have since collapsed.
We could not confirm access by train or bus, park hours, this year's winter closure dates, toilet details or English guidance.
小池 隆CC BY 3.0Wikimedia Commons
