The Ruins of Izushi Castle

The Ruins of Izushi Castle

To the south of Izushi town in Hyogo Prefecture, the ruins of Izushi Castle is located. Izushi Castle was built in 1604. It was one year after the Edo Age (1603 - 1868) started. Izushi was the capital of Izushi Domain and the government office buildings of Izushi Domain were located at Izushi Castle.

Please refer the page of "Castle Town Izushi in Hyogo" for more detail:
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Kansai/Izushi_E.html

At first, KOIDE Yoshimasa became a castle lord of Izushi. After KOIDE clan was extinct in 1696. MATSUDAIRA Tadachika became a castle lord in 1696. Then, SENGOKU Masaaki moved from Ueda in Nagano in 1706 as a castle lord of Izushi. The era of SENGOKU continued until the Meiji Age started.

If you walk from the Izushi Bus Stop to the east, you will see a bridge and a gate on your right. This is the entrance of the ruins of Izushi Castle.

After passing through the gate, you will see the west turret of Izushi Castle from the bottom bailey.

At the bottom bailey, azalea blossoms were fully bloomed in May, when I visited. Inari Shrine is also located at the bottom bailey.

On the east side of the castle, Torii gates continue over the "Inari" Slope from the bottom to the top bailey.
The view through the red Torii Gates were fascinating.

From the second bailey, you will see the east and west turrets. These turrets were rebuilt in 1968. There turrets were rebuilt as two-storied buildings, but originally these turrets were single-storied buildings. However, these rebuilt turrets has good atmosphere and tell you how the castle was during the Edo Age.

From the west turret, you will see downtown Izushi. A couple came right at that moment when I looked at the town. This scenery was very lovely.

On the main bailey, the "Kanno-den" Hall is located. This hall enshrines SENGOKU Hidehisa (1522 - 1614) , who was the first generation of the DENGOKU Clan.

Torii gates continues to the top bailey.

On the top bailey, Arikoyama-Inari Shrine is located. You will enjoy the scenery of downtown Izushi from the top bailey.

Izushi and the ruins of Izushi castle keep a good atmosphere in the Edo Age. As Izushi is not far from Kinosaki-Onsen Hot Spring, Izushi is a good candidate to visit when you stay at Kinosaki Onsen.

The ruins of Izushi Castle are located at the foot of Mt. Ariko. On the top of the mountain, the ruins of Arikoyama Castle are located. The view of the downtown Izushi from the top of Mt. Ariko is excellent.

How to get there
From Osaka, you will take a Limited Express "Konotori" to Toyooka, or take a Limited Express "Hashidate" from Kyoto to Toyooka. Then, take a bus to Izushi.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Castle Town, Izushi
Ruins of Arikoyama Castle
Toyooka
Ritsuunkyo