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Hachigata Castle Ruins
A must for history enthusiasts! Explore the ruins of one of the Kanto region’s most formidable castles from the Sengoku period.
Hachigata Castle once stood atop cliffs between the Arakawa and Fukazawa Rivers in Yorii, Saitama Prefecture. It was built in 1476 by Nagao Kageharu, a retainer of the Yamanouchi Uesugi clan, which held the post of Kanto Kanrei.
Hachigata was a strategic transportation hub linking the region with Kozuke and Shinano Provinces. Its location on sheer cliffs between two rivers made it a natural fortress, and the castle was renowned for repelling even Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. One of the largest castle sites in the Kanto region, it is recognized as a representative castle of the Sengoku period and is listed among Japan’s Top 100 Castles.
The site has now been developed as Hachigata Castle Park. Many of its moats and earthen embankments retain their original form, while remains uncovered through archaeological excavations—including stone-faced embankments, gates, stairways, and a garden pond—have been reconstructed. Sections of stone wall also survive, making this a popular place to experience traces of the Sengoku period firsthand.
The Hachigata Castle History Museum offers videos and other exhibits through which visitors can learn about and experience the castle’s history. Its centerpiece is a meticulously crafted diorama recreating Hachigata Castle as it appeared at the time. Guided tours of the castle ruins led by volunteer guides are also recommended. Tours are free, but reservations are required.
Highlights
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One of the largest castle sites in the Kanto region.
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Listed among Japan’s Top 100 Castles.
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Many of the moats and earthen embankments retain their original form, offering a firsthand sense of the Sengoku period.
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The Hachigata Castle History Museum, where visitors can learn about and experience the castle’s history through videos and other exhibits.
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The museum’s centerpiece is a meticulously crafted diorama recreating Hachigata Castle as it appeared at the time.
Photos
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Panoramic view of Hachigata Castle
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Moat and earthen embankment of the second bailey
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Hachigata Castle History Museum
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Diorama inside the Hachigata Castle History Museum
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Hachigata Castle’s main bailey and the Arakawa River
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Reconstructed four-post gate
Reviews
Basic Information
- Name in Japanese
- 鉢形城跡
- Postal Code
- 369-1224
- Address
- 2496-2 Hachigata, Yorii, Saitama Prefecture (Hachigata Castle History Museum)
- Phone
- 048-586-0315 (Hachigata Castle History Museum)
- Admission
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Hachigata Castle Park: Free; Hachigata Castle History Museum: Adults, 200 yen; high school and university students, 100 yen
Visitors age 70 and over and junior high school students and younger: Free - Closed on
- Hachigata Castle Park: Open year-round; Hachigata Castle History Museum: Mondays (or the following day when Monday is a national holiday) and the year-end and New Year holidays
- Hours
- 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Hachigata Castle History Museum); last admission at 4:00 p.m.
- Access
- About a 25-minute walk from Yorii Station on the Chichibu Railway, Tobu Tojo Line, and JR Hachiko Line
- Official website
- Official website (Japanese)