Japan Castle Atlas

Honda Toshihisa

本多利久

A warrior who served Toyotomi Hidenaga. He became lord of Takatori Castle in 1585 and turned the mountain fort into a castle with a large and a small keep and many turrets.

Years: ?–1603

Historical record

Story

He brought lowland castle-building methods to the mountaintop, adding a large and a small keep, 27 turrets and 33 gates. According to the town tourism association, the stacked white buildings were likened to a cotton-rose flower.

Connected castles

The tall stone walls of the main enclosure seen from its southeast corner, November 2014. No buildings remain; only the stonework survives on the mountaintop.

In-depth article

Takatori, Nara

Takatori Castle

高取城

On a 583-meter mountaintop once stood a keep and 27 white turrets, so bright from the town below that a folk song mistook them for snow.

Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 61CastleMountain

8-hachiroCC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons

rebuilt it as a full-scale castle as its lordRecord source: article

The tall stone walls of the main enclosure seen from its southeast corner, November 2014. No buildings remain; only the stonework survives on the mountaintop.

In-depth article

Takatori, Nara

Takatori Castle

高取城

On a 583-meter mountaintop once stood a keep and 27 white turrets, so bright from the town below that a folk song mistook them for snow.

Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 61CastleMountain

8-hachiroCC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons

Rebuilt / expandedRecord source: wikipedia

Sources

1
高取城(高取町観光協会)Checked: 2026-10-03
2
本多利久(補助資料・Wikipedia日本語版)Checked: 2026-10-03