CastleMountain castle (yamajiro)Next 100 Fine Castles No. 106
What makes this castle distinctive
A Warring States castle made by reshaping an entire hill on the Oga Peninsula, where it juts into the Sea of Japan, out of earth alone. It covers about 150 hectares.
Why?
Wakimoto has no stone walls and no keep: it is an earthwork castle, made by cutting and filling a hill about 100 m high to create baileys, banks, dry moats and wells. After it fell out of use in the early Edo period, much of it was carefully kept as common land by nearby villages, so its remains are exceptionally well preserved.[3][1]
The Uchidate area at the heart of the castle; climb the old stairway opposite the information hut
What to look at
The castle's largest earthen bank, with a height difference of up to about 6 m, and the row of small flat baileys
Why it's interesting
Uchidate is a cluster of smaller baileys side by side, carved out of the hill by cutting and filling. The castle's entrances (koguchi) are best preserved here, and excavation found traces of a palisade on top of the bank.[3]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideOpen-air remains you can see from the walking trail.
02
Well sites that survive as hollows
Where
Within the Uchidate area
What to look at
Six former wells that remain as hollows in the ground
Why it's interesting
Securing water was vital for a hilltop castle. Legend says that when the castle was attacked, the lord buried a golden tea kettle at the bottom of a well, and that in the Meiji era believers dug here night after night. Digging is now prohibited by law.[3]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideOpen-air remains.
03
The old Tenkamichi road and the stairway into the castle
Where
Opposite the Wakimoto Castle information hut, from the old-road stairway called "Bridge to the Middle Ages" up to Uchidate
What to look at
The feel of the old road running through the castle between the baileys
Why it's interesting
Through the middle of the castle ran the Tenkamichi, the old road onto the Oga Peninsula. It was widened and partly cut in the Showa era, but the remaining stretch is well preserved. The city says the old stairway opposite the information hut keeps the atmosphere of the Tenkamichi best.[2][3]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideWatch your footing in the rain.
At a glance for visitors
Nearest station
30 min walk from JR Wakimoto Station
Climb
Some climbing
Time neededEditors' estimate
About an hour around the Uchidate area; allow around two hours to continue to the Umanoriba area.
Admission
Free
Hours
Open 24 hours (no lighting at night)
Access
Open to visitors
The ruins are outdoors and free to explore. The Wakimoto Castle information hut (free) is open 24 hours, but has no lighting at night, so daytime visits are recommended. The Next 100 Castles stamp is kept there. Digging and similar activities within the site are restricted under the Cultural Properties Protection Act. Bears have been sighted repeatedly in the area, and the hut lends out bear bells.
The Wakimoto Castle ruins lie on the south side of the Oga Peninsula, on a hill about 100 m high that juts out into the Sea of Japan. The hill covers about 150 hectares, and Oga City describes it as one of the largest castle sites in Tohoku. An old road onto the peninsula ran through the middle, and the castle was built on both sides of it.[1][3]
02
Scholarly interpretation
Builder and date unknown
When the castle was built is not clear, but the style of excavated objects suggests it was already in use as a castle by the 15th century. The medieval Oga Peninsula was ruled by the Ando clan, and excavations have turned up items linked to them. Records say Ando Masasue arrived in Ogajima (Oga) in 1456.[3]
03
Tradition
Ando Chikasue's great rebuilding
In 1577, tradition says, Ando Chikasue, who had united the Hiyama and Minato branches of the Ando clan, handed Hiyama and Minato castles to his heir and rebuilt Wakimoto on a large scale as his own residence. Chikasue had ties to central Japan, even sending falcons to Oda Nobunaga.[1][3]
04
Scholarly interpretation
A center that shifted over time
The castle is divided into five main areas: Uchidate with its row of small baileys, Umanoriba (Furudate) centered on one large bailey, Kabutogasaki-Uchigasaki, Sakuragi and Onendo. Below lay a castle town and a temple district. The dates of excavated objects suggest the castle's center shifted over time.[3]
05
Historical record
Abandoned early in the Edo period, and well preserved
In 1602 the Ando (by then called Akita) clan was moved to Shishido in Hitachi Province, and the Satake clan took over Akita. A 1647 map already labels Wakimoto an old castle, so it is thought to have fallen out of use early in the Edo period. Much of the site then became common land shared by nearby villages, which is why its baileys, banks and wells survive so well.[3]
06
Historical record
Cared for locally, protected nationally
In 1987 local residents formed a society and began caring for the site. After designations by the city and prefecture, it became a National Historic Site in 2004, with an extension in 2022. Volunteer guides have worked here since 2007, and in 2017 it was named one of the Next 100 Fine Castles of Japan.[3][1]
Ando Chikasue rebuilds it as his residence (tradition)[1][3]
Akita Sanesue is moved to Shishido; the Satake take over Akita[3]
A provincial map already labels it an old castle[3]
Designated a National Historic Site (extended 2022)[1]
Selected as one of the Next 100 Fine Castles of Japan[3]
Buildings and remains
The keep today
No keep was built
A medieval earthwork castle with no stone walls and no keep, as Oga City puts it. The Japan Castle Foundation's list also shows no keep.
The site today
The whole hill is a historic site, and walking trails lead across the grassy baileys and banks. Sugawara Shrine and temples stand within the castle area, with the castle-town and temple districts at the foot. The designated area is 1,289,760 square meters.
Main buildings
Site only
Castle buildings (post-built structures and palisades)
Excavations found traces of post-built buildings and palisades; nothing stands above ground.[3]
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
National Historic Site (Wakimoto Castle ruins) (2004)Editorial article
Selection
Next 100 Fine Castles No. 106Japan Castle Foundation
Visiting
Access
Open to visitors
The ruins are outdoors and free to explore. The Wakimoto Castle information hut (free) is open 24 hours, but has no lighting at night, so daytime visits are recommended. The Next 100 Castles stamp is kept there. Digging and similar activities within the site are restricted under the Cultural Properties Protection Act. Bears have been sighted repeatedly in the area, and the hut lends out bear bells.
JR Wakimoto StationJR Oga Line (about 40 minutes from Akita Station)
about 30 min walk · Some climbing
About 30 minutes on foot from the station (city brochure). From the trailhead on Route 101 it is about 5 minutes to the information hut, then up the old stairway into the castle.[3][2]
The trailhead is on Route 101 (the nearest expressway exit is Showa Oga Hanto IC on the Akita Expressway). Cars can drive up to the information hut, but the road is very narrow and rough in places; buses cannot get through.[2][3]
Checked: 2026-10-03
Grounds opening hours
No opening hours are listed for the site (the information hut is open 24 hours)[2]Checked: 2026-10-03
Time neededEditors' estimate
About an hour around the Uchidate area; allow around two hours to continue to the Umanoriba area.
Steps, slopes and footing
A hill about 100 m high, explored by an old stairway and earthen trails that get slippery in the rain.[3][2]
Wheelchairs and strollers
Not confirmedChecked: 2026-10-03
Toilets and rest
There is a basic toilet at the information hut (brochure map).[3]
English signs / audio guide
Not confirmed
Seasons
Not confirmed
Photography
Not confirmed
Works, closures and restrictions
Oga City reports that a bear was seen near the Wakimoto Castle parking area on June 28, 2026, and may have moved into the castle grounds; there were also sightings nearby in May and June. Check the city's bear information before you go.[1]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 visitors who would rather walk the shapes of an earthwork castle built around its terrain than look at keeps and stone walls. The broad site above the Sea of Japan lets you feel the true scale of a Warring States hill castle.
What makes it interesting
The great bank and the row of small baileys at Uchidate, and the wells that survive as hollows. Watching how the Tenkamichi road threads between the baileys shows that this castle was built to control the road.
Before you go
Bears have been seen repeatedly nearby, so check the city's latest information and borrow a bear bell at the information hut. The road up to the hut is very narrow. There are no buildings and little shade, so dress for the season.
Ways to enjoy it
Climbing the old stairway opposite the hut gives you the feel of entering the castle by its old road. The city's volunteer guides (free; book about a week ahead) also lead tours on weekends. QR codes on the signboards bring up an AR 3D map of the site.
Photos
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Open questions
The builder and date are unknown, and even Ando Chikasue's 1577 rebuilding rests on tradition.
The description as one of the largest castle sites in Tohoku comes from Oga City.
The golden tea kettle is a legend, not historical fact.
Walking time from the station is about 30 minutes in the city brochure and 35 minutes in other sources. Parking capacity, accessibility and English signage could not be confirmed.
小池 隆CC BY 4.0Wikimedia Commons
