CastleFlatland castle (hirajiro)Next 100 Fine Castles No. 108
What makes this castle distinctive
Every castle building was torn down, yet on the site of the main enclosure stands a shrine that local people built themselves out of devotion to their former lords, the Sakai family.
Why?
Tsurugaoka was the seat of the Sakai family, lords of the Shonai domain, for about 250 years. In 1877, the year after the castle was demolished, people who remembered the Sakai family's rule built Shonai Shrine on the main enclosure to honor the domain's founder. Tsuruoka City notes that the head of the Sakai family still lives in Tsuruoka and is still fondly called "the lord."[1][3]
Around Tsuruoka Park, on the site of the main and second enclosures
What to look at
The water of the moats around the park and the banks and stone walls above them
Why it's interesting
Tsurugaoka was a flatland castle in the concentric style: the main enclosure was ringed by the second and third enclosures, each with its own earthen bank and moat. Stone walls were used only beneath the turrets and gates; most of the perimeter was earthen banks topped with walls pierced by gun and arrow ports. In the Meiji era most of the banks were leveled and many moats filled in, but the moats that remain still trace the castle's shape.[1]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideThe park is free to walk around.
The torii gate and worship hall, and the treasure hall beside the main sanctuary
Why it's interesting
Shonai Shrine was founded in 1877 at the initiative of local people who revered their former lords, and four Sakai lords are enshrined here. Its treasure hall (opened 1998) holds about 2,000 items, including treasures donated by the Sakai family, maps of the castle town and large votive paintings from the castle era, with displays changed monthly. The Next 100 Castles stamp is kept at the shrine office.[3][1]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideThe grounds are open for worship. Treasure hall hours and fees are not confirmed.
03
Inari Shrine, the only building left from the castle era
Where
Inside Tsuruoka Park, within the castle site that also holds Shonai Shrine
What to look at
The shrine building approached through rows of vermilion torii
Why it's interesting
In 1708 the sixth lord, Sakai Tadazane, built this shrine to protect the castle. When the castle was torn down in the Meiji era, it was spared because of strong local devotion, and Shonai Shrine describes it as the only building that survives from the castle era.[3]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideOpen for worship.
At a glance for visitors
Nearest station
30 min walk from JR Tsuruoka Station
Climb
No climb
Time neededEditors' estimate
About an hour for the park and Shonai Shrine; allow around half a day to add Chidokan and the Chido Museum.
Admission
Free
Hours
9:00–16:30
Access
Open to visitors
Tsuruoka Park is free to walk around. The Next 100 Castles stamp is at the Shonai Shrine office in the park (hours not confirmed). As it is on shrine grounds, the city asks visitors to be respectful.
Tsurugaoka was a flatland castle at the heart of today's Tsuruoka. To the east, the Uchikawa River running north–south through town served as a moat; to the south, the Hyakken moat made use of an old river course; and to the north, a reservoir added protection. The street grid of the castle town still shapes central Tsuruoka today.[1]
02
Tradition
From Daihoji Castle to Tsurugaoka
The castle is said to have begun as a fortress built by Muto Nagamori in the early Muromachi period, and was long known as Daihoji Castle. After the Muto (Daihoji) family fell it passed to the Uesugi of Echigo, and in 1601 the Mogami clan of Yamagata made it their base for ruling Shonai. Two years later it was renamed Tsurugaoka Castle.[1]
03
Historical record
Fifty years of work by the Sakai
After the Mogami were dispossessed, Sakai Tadakatsu arrived from Matsushiro in Shinano in 1622, and for about 250 years and twelve generations, until domains were abolished in 1871, the Sakai ruled Shonai. Over three generations and some 50 years, the family expanded the castle, adding a third enclosure, and laid out the castle town. The main enclosure held a single-story palace of 923 tsubo (about 3,000 square meters), and the third enclosure held some 180 samurai houses and the domain school, Chidokan.[1]
04
Historical record
Surrender in the Boshin War
In September 1868, the Shonai domain surrendered to the new government's forces in the Boshin War and handed over Tsurugaoka Castle.[1]
05
Historical record
Demolished and turned into Tsuruoka Park
In 1876, under the order to dismantle castles, every building inside was destroyed, most of the earthen banks were leveled and moats were filled in, and the grounds became Tsuruoka Park, open to all. The following year residents built Shonai Shrine on the main enclosure. The only building surviving from the castle era is the Inari Shrine of 1708.[1][3]
06
Historical record
A cherry blossom spot that keeps the castle's memory
Tsuruoka Park is one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots, with about 710 cherry trees. In 2022, construction work at the site of the second enclosure's outer moat uncovered Kinbo stones thought to have been used in the second enclosure's stone walls. In 2017 the castle was named one of the Next 100 Fine Castles of Japan.[4][1][7]
Sakai Tadakatsu arrives; the Sakai hold the castle for about 250 years[1]
Surrender in the Boshin War; the castle is handed over[1]
Buildings demolished; the site becomes Tsuruoka Park[1]
Shonai Shrine is founded on the main enclosure[3][1]
Buildings and remains
The keep today
No keep was built
The castle had no keep; its tallest structures were two-story corner turrets such as the Osumi (Inui) Yagura at the northwest corner of the main enclosure. The Japan Castle Foundation's list also shows no keep.
The site today
The site of the main and second enclosures is Tsuruoka Park, home to Shonai Shrine, Inari Shrine and Taihokan. Parts of the moats and stone walls survive. The Chido Museum and the Chidokan domain school stand on the former third enclosure.
Main buildings
Lost
Castle buildings (palace, turrets and gates)
All demolished in 1876. Early Meiji photographs of the main gate, the middle gate and a second-enclosure corner turret are held by the Tsuruoka City Local History Archives.[1]
Original
Inari Shrine
Built in 1708 as the castle's guardian shrine; described as the only building surviving from the castle era.[3]
Key facts
Type
Castle
Setting
Flatland castle (hirajiro)built on flat ground, defended by moatsEditorial article
Period
Medieval (c.1185–1570s), Early modern (1570s–1871)Editorial article
Keep (tenshu)
No keep was builtthe castle never had a keepEditorial article
Built by
Sakai clan, Mutō clan, Daihōji clanJapan Castle Foundation
Main lords
Uesugi clan, Sakai clan, Mogami clan, Mutō clanJapan Castle Foundation
Abandoned
1871Wikipedia (ja)
Remains to see
Earthen ramparts, Stone walls, Moats, Baileys / enclosures (kuruwa)Editorial article
Selection
Next 100 Fine Castles No. 108Japan Castle Foundation
Visiting
Access
Open to visitors
Tsuruoka Park is free to walk around. The Next 100 Castles stamp is at the Shonai Shrine office in the park (hours not confirmed). As it is on shrine grounds, the city asks visitors to be respectful.
Address
Babacho, Tsuruoka, Yamagata (Tsuruoka Park); Shonai Shrine is at 4-1 Babacho[3]
Checked: 2026-10-03
Nearest stations and how to get there
JR Tsuruoka StationJR Uetsu Line
about 30 min walk · No climb
About 30 minutes on foot (per Taihokan). By bus, take one bound for Yunohama Onsen, about 10 minutes, get off at Shiyakusho-mae and walk 2 minutes.[5][4]
Checked: 2026-10-03
Hours and admission
Taihokan (museum of notable people from Tsuruoka)
Hours
9:00–16:30
Closed
Wednesdays (next day if Wednesday is a holiday), December 29 – January 3
The domain school founded in 1805 by the ninth lord, Sakai Tadaari, and moved to its present site in the third enclosure in 1816. Tsuruoka City describes it as the only surviving domain school building in Tohoku. National Historic Site. Free; 9:00–16:30; closed Wednesdays.[6][8]
Museum on the site of the third enclosure. Adults 1,000 yen. Closed Wednesdays and December 28 – January 4.[9]
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
For those who like to explore a castle together with its castle town, or enjoy castle grounds in cherry blossom season. There is no keep or turret, but moats, shrines, the domain school and museums are all gathered in one area.
What makes it interesting
Walk around the moats to sense the shape of a concentric flatland castle, then visit Shonai Shrine on the main enclosure to learn about the bond between the Sakai and local people. Don't miss Inari Shrine, the only building left from the castle era.
Before you go
All castle buildings were demolished in 1876, and none has been reconstructed. Taihokan and Chidokan close on Wednesdays, so plan around that.
Ways to enjoy it
Walking from the park to Chidokan on the former third enclosure gives a feel for the distance between the castle's core and where samurai sons studied. The streets of central Tsuruoka still follow the castle town's layout.
Photos
Visitor reviews
Be the first to review
Have you visited this castle? We'd love to hear from you.
Write a review
Open questions
The castle's origin, built by Muto Nagamori in the early Muromachi period, is traditional.
The Japan Castle Foundation and Tsuruoka City classify it as a flatland castle; some other sources call it a hill-and-plain castle.
Shonai Shrine dates Inari Shrine to 1708; some sources give 1704.
No heritage designation for the castle site itself could be confirmed (the Japan Castle Foundation's list also shows none). Hours and fees for the shrine office and treasure hall, park toilets and English signage could not be confirmed.
掬茶CC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons
