Kiyosu Castle

In 1405, the Shugo (governor) of Owari (current Aichi prefecture), Yoshishige Shiba, dominated this castle as an annex of Shimotsu Castle.

A historically famous military commander, Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) made a triumphal entry from Nagoya Castle and decided this castle to be his military base in 1555. He departed from the castle for “the battle of Okehazama” which is well known as his dramatic victory. He was attacked to death by Mitsuhide Akechi in the Honnō-ji Incident when he almost united the whole country. After his death, the meeting deciding his successor “the Kiyosu Conference” was held in the castle.

The current castle was rebuilt in 1989 and the many exhibitions placed inside the castle tell us how the Warring States period was. Particularly, the exhibition of the theme, “Kiyosu Castle and the castle town”, is interesting in which we can learn about the whole aspect of the city function of the castle town thriving during the Warring States period. Other exhibitions explain how the relationship was deep between Kiyosu and military commanders in this period for example Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598), and Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) is recommended.

Kiyosu Castle is said to be located on the same ground as the current Kiyosu-kojoato park on the opposite bank of Gojo River at that time. There is the stone monument written “The ruin of Kiyosu Castle”, a small shrine enshrining Oda Nobunaga, and statues of Nobunaga and his wife Nohime in the park. Cherry blossom flowers brilliantly bloom in spring on the bank of Gojo River and Kiyosu-kojoato park and many people visit here for viewing.