Uwajima Castle Town

Uwajima is located to the southwest of Ehime Prefecture. Uwajima Castle was built in 1610 by TODO Takatora (1556-1630) and Uwajima became the capital of the Uwajima Domain during the Edo Age (1603-1868) . Uwajima was developed as a castle town.

Please refer the page of "Ruins of Uwajima Castle" for more detail:
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Shikoku/UwajimaCastle_E.html

Tensha-En Garden

To the south of Uwajima Castle, Tensha-En Garden is located.

"Tensha-En" Garden was originally built as the "Hamagoten" Palace in 1672 by the second feudal lord, DATE Munetoshi (1635-1709) . In 1866, the seventh feudal lord, DATE Munetada (1792-1889) made the Tensha-En Garden in "Hamagoten" Palace as his private garden after his retirement. DATE Munetada named the garden "Tensha-En".

The garden has 1.2 hectares of area and a pond.

You are able to walk around the pond. This is the typical garden style in the Edo Age. The view of the garden was very impressive.

Mausoleums of DATE Clan

After visiting "Tensha-En" Garden, I walked to the mausoleums of DATE Clan. The mausoleums are located at Dairyuji Temple and Tokakuji Temple.

Dairyuji Temple is located to the southeast of Uwajima City. Dairyuji Temple was built in 1608.

When DATE Hidemune (1591-1658) , the first feudal lord of Uwajima Domain, moved from Sendai to Uwajima, Dairyuji Temple became the family temple of DATE Clan.

The below pictures show the mausoleums of DATE Munetada (1792-1889) , the seventh feudal lord and DATE Munee (1830-1906) , the ninth and the last feudal lord of Uwajima Domain.

The Mausoleum of DATE Munetada
The Mausoleum of DATE Munee

It was after sunset and I was alone in the temple with surrounded by mausoleums and graves. I suddenly felt lonely.

The mausoleums of the wife of DATE Hidemune, the first feudal lord of Uwajima Domain, and DATE Muratoki (1725-1794) , the fifth feudal lord of Uwajima Domain are also located in Dairyuji Temple.

The next travel destination was Tokakuji Temple. Tokakuji Temple is just ten minute walk from Dairyuji Temple.

"Daidokoro" Turret
"Koran" Turret

The main gate of Tokakuji Temple was very impressive. The below picture shows the mausoleum of DATE Hidemune, the first feudal lord of Uwajima Domain. There are four graves of his retainers who followed DATE Hidemune in death.

In Tokakuji Temple, other four mausoleums are located. They are the mausoleums of DATE Munetoshi (1635-1709) , the second feudal lord, DATE Muneyoshi (1665-1711) , the third feudal lord, DATE Muranaga (1763-1836) , the sixth feudal lord and DATE Munenari (1818-1892) , the eighth feudal lord of Uwajima Domain.

On the way back to Uwajima Station from Tokakuji Temple, you will see the Main Castle Tower of Ruins of Uwajima Castle on Mt. "Shiroyama". This view was also very impressive.

How to get there
From Tokyo, take a Tokaido Shinkansen, "Nozomi" or a "Hikari" for Japan Rail Pass travelers to Okayama. Take a Limited Express "Shiokaze" to Matsuyama. Then, take a Limited Express "Uwakai" to Uwajima. Or, you can fly to Matsuyama Airport and take a "Uwakai" from Matsuyama to Uwajima. Dairyuji Temple is approximately twenty-five minute walk from Uwajima Station.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Uchiko Historical District
Ruins of Iyo-Ozu Castle
Ruins of Uwajima Castle
Warei Shrine in Uwajima

Go to the top page of "Historical and Exotic Japan":
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Home Page in Japanese: "Shane's HomePage"
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