Tokugawa
Wakayama Castle
和歌山城
| Alternate Name | Takegaki-jo, Torafusu-jo |
| Founder | Toyotomi Hidenaga |
| Year | 1585 |
| Reconstructed | 1958 (concrete) |
| Type | Hilltop |
| Structure | 3 levels, 3 stories |
| Condition | Reconstructed |
| Rating | ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ |
| Historical Site | National Historic Site |
| Historical Value | Top 100 Castles, Important Cultural Properties |
| Historical Artifacts |
Important Cultural Properties: Okaguchi Gate |
| Location | Wakayama City, Wakayama Pref. |
| Map | Google Map |
| Access | Wakayama Station (Nankai Line, JR Hanwa Line) |
| Website | Wakayama City |
| Notes | All pictures donated by C. Alan |
| History |
In 1585, under the orders of his older brother Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Toyotomi Hidenaga established Wakayama Castle to help rule over the Kii area. When the castle was finished, Hidenaga had made Yamato Koriyama Castle his home base and stationed Kuwayama Shigeharu here in his place. Asano Yoshinaga was stationed at Wakayama Castle after the Battle of Sekigahara. In 1619, Tokugawa Ieyasu's 10th child Yorinobu became lord of the castle. From that point until the Meiji Restoration the castle was ruled by successive Tokugawa lords. Even after the Meiji Restoration, the beautiful donjon was kept intact and designated a National Treasure. Unfortunately, it burned to the ground during bombings in 1945. Wakayama Castle together with Himeji Castle and Iyo-Matsuyama Castle are called the Three Great Flatland Mountain Castles. |
Viewer Comments
(1) | Post CommentVisited this castle on the same day that I went to Himeji Castle. I guess it suffered a little in comparison, but it is still a nice castle to visit. It has a decent museum and a great panoramic view of Wakayama City from the top of the castle. You can also walk inside the completely covered walls which is sort of like parts of the western walls at Himeji Castle. Wakayama Castle is about a 20 minute walk from JR Wakayama Station. You can also catch a bus from the station which stops right outside the castle.
August 16, 2008 at 04:49 PM