Saga Prefectural Nagoya Castle Museum

Nagoya Castle Ruins

Nagoya Castle Ruins—not to be confused with Aichi Prefecture’s Nagoya Castle—is located in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture. The castle was built quickly between 1591 and 1592 for Hideyoshi Toyotomi, a samurai, daimyo (feudal lord), and one of the great unifiers of Japan. The castle was constructed as a gathering point to prepare for Japan’s invasions of Korea between 1592 and 1598 and was visited by some of the country’s most famous generals, including Ieyasu Tokugawa, who would later become the first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The castle complex spans 17 hectares, and, at its inception, was the second-largest castle in Japan, after Osaka Castle. During its heyday, the grounds were home to about 130 daimyo campsites, which were congregated within three kilometers of the castle, and a castle town with a population of over 200,000 people.  Today, only the castle’s stone walls and the ruins of 23 daimyo campsites remain. The remains are designated as national special historic sites. Be sure to check out the informational posts throughout the area (in Japanese only) for additional insights. In addition to the history, the grounds’ greenery and elevated position make it a popular nature space. Enjoy a leisurely walk and picturesque panoramas of the surrounding townscape. For additional historical learning, visit the Saga Prefectural Nagoya Castle Museum. It is located next to the ruins and exhibits the history between Japan and Korea.