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Ruins of Kitsuki Castle
Kitsuki Castle was originally built by KITSUKI Yorinao, the fourth generation of KITSUKI Clan, in 1394. Kitsuki Castle is located on the hill at the mouth of Yasaka River flow into Beppu Bay in Oita Prefecture. KITSUKI Caln was fell in 1593, when OTOMO Yoshimune (1558-1610) , who was the lord of KITSUKI Clan, was punished by TOYOTOMI Hideyoshi (1537-1598) , who united Japan in 1591 and was the power of the time. When the Edo Age (1603-1868) started in 1603, Kitsuki became the territory of the Kokura Domain.In 1645, MATSUDAIRA Hidechika (1625-1706) became the first feudal lord of Kitsuki Domain and descendants of MATSUDAIRA Hidechika became the feudal lords of Kitsuki Domain until the end of the Edo Age. 
As Kitsuki Castle is located to the east of downtown Kitsuki, you will approach to Kitsuki Castle from the west side. To the west of Kitsuki Castle, two small hills lie parallelly in an east to west direction in downtown Kitsuki. "Samurai" residences, retainers' residences of the castle lord, were located on these two small hills and these two areas now become historical districts. Please refer the page of "Kitsuki Historical Districts" for more detail: http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Kyushu/Kitsuki_E.html You will go through the "Torii" Gate of Aoto Shrine. 
When you go up a small hill, you will see the Yasaka River, which flows to the south of the castle. 
This area was the fourth bailey of Kitsuki Castle. The third bailey is located behind of the stone steps shown in the below-left picture. The second bailey is located beyond the castle gate shown in the below-right picture. |
