Ruins of Hagi Castle

Ruins of Hagi Castle

Hagi Castle was built in 1604 by Mori Terumoto (1553-1625) .
At the end of the Muromachi Age (1336-1573) , MORI Motonari (1497-1571) , the grandfather of Mori Terumoto, expanded his territory and he finally governed the west side of the Main Island of Japan (present-day, Hiroshima, Shimane and Yamaguchi Prefectures).

At the battle of Sekigahara on September 15, 1600, which was the fateful battle between the Eastern and Western armies, MORI Terumoto became the commander in chief of the Western army against TOKUGAWA Ieyasu (1543-1616) . As the western army lost at the battle, the territory of MORI Terumoto was reduced one fourth, to the area of present-day Yamaguch Prefecture. Hagi Castle became the residence of MORI Clan, who were castle lords during the Edo Age, and the government office of Choshu Domain.

Horiuchi Historical District, which is located to the east of the main bailey of Hagi Castle, used to be the third bailey of Hagi castle. There are a couple of remaining "Samurai" residences in the historical district.

Please refer the page of "Horiuchi Historical District in Hagi" for more detail:
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Chugoku/Hagi_Horiuchi_E.html

If you cross over the moat of Hagi Castle, you will be in the second bailey of Hagi Castle.

In the second bailey, the former residence of ASA-MORI Clan is located. Unfortunately, the main house building was destroyed, but the row house is remaining from the Edo Age (1603-1868) .

It was built in 1856 and it seems the row house was used as waiting rooms for visitors. The row house was the largest remaining building in Hagi from the Edo Age. It is designated as an important property of Japan.

In a room, the photo of MORI Terumoto is displayed.

If you walk to the north from the former residence of ASA-MORI Clan, you will see the site of the "Minami-Mon" Gate. The "Minami-Mon" Gate was the main gate of the second bailey.

In the site of the gate, the statue of MORI Terumoto was located. As MORI Terumoto built Hagi Castle, it seems he is the most respected person in the Edo Age (1603-1868) in Hagi.

If you walk further to the north, you will be in the front of the main bailey. Across the inner moat, the main bailey is located at the foot of Mt. Shizuki. At the top of Mt. Shizuki, the fort was built in the case of a potential battle.

No castle buildings remain, but this view was very impressive and the representative view of the ruins of Hagi Castle. In the castle, an old picture was displayed. The picture shows the main castle tower.

The five-storied main castle tower was built in 1608, and it was unfortunately destroryed in 1874.

After crossing the earthen bridge over the inner moat, I went up the stone walls along the inner moat in the main bailey.

The view of the inner moat and basement of the main castle tower covered by stone walls were also impressive. The inner moat also surrounds the west side of the main bailey. The below picture shows the view of the site of the main castle tower from the west side of Hagi Castle.

In the middle of the main bailey, there are two tea houses. The below left picture shows the "Hananoe" Tea House. The tea house was built in 1854 by MORI Takachika (1819-1871) , who was the thirteenth feudal lord of the Choshu Domain.

The above right picture shows the tea house of NASHIWA Family, who were high class retainers of the Choshu Domain. The tea house was moved to the main bailey after the Edo Age ended.

To the east of the main bailey, Kikugahama Beach is located.

Kikugahama Beach is facing Japan Sea. The sea was very clam in Summer.

At the end of the Edo Age, Choshu Domain and Satsuma Domain in current Kagoshima Prefecture were the main powers who defeated the TOKUGAWA Bakufu, the central government of Japan during the Edo Age. Hagi Castle was on the center stage of history of Japan at that time.

How to get there
From Tokyo or Osaka, take a "Nozomi" bound for Hakata. Get off a Nozomi at Shin-Yamaguchi and take a bus to Hagi, the Meirin Center. Hagi Castle is located within the walking distance.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Former Shokasonjyuku School
Kikuya Avenue Historical District
Horiuchi Historical District
Hagi-Hakkei Sightseeing Boat
Hiyako Historical District