Takatsuki Castle Park

In short

A park that spreads across the former grounds of Takatsuki Castle. In 1573 (Tensho 1), Takayama Ukon built a fortified castle here that even incorporated the merchant town houses within its perimeter, and during the Edo period, it was the only early-modern castle in the Hokusetsu region, serving as the seat of the Nagai family, a fudai daimyo, until the end of the Edo period. In 1874 (Meiji 7), its stone walls were demolished to be used as materials for building a railway, and no moats or stone walls of the castle remain above ground today.

• ​Stone walls and pond modeled after the moat​​: The centerpiece of the park is a zone featuring stone walls and a pond built to resemble the moats of Takatsuki Castle. Walking paths and benches surround the area, allowing you to stroll while imagining the appearance of the castle's water moats
• ​Statue of Takayama Ukon​​: The bronze statue of Takayama Ukon holding a cross-shaped sword serves as the symbol of the park. Identical statues also exist in Manila in the Philippines, Takaoka City in Toyama Prefecture, Shika Town in Ishikawa Prefecture, and Shodoshima Island in Kagawa Prefecture
• ​History and Folklore Museum and the Engineer Regiment Gate​​: The History and Folklore Museum is a restored merchant house originally built in Konyamachi in the castle town in the mid-Edo period and later relocated here; it is designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of the city. On the north side of the park remains the main gate of the Imperial Japanese Army's 4th Engineer Regiment, which was stationed on the site of Takatsuki Castle beginning in 1909 (Meiji 42)

History and Highlights

​Takatsuki Castle Park​ is a park that spreads across the former grounds of Takatsuki Castle. It began as "Shiroato Park" (Castle Site Park), which opened in 1956 (Showa 31), and was renamed to its current name, "Takatsuki Castle Park," when the park area was expanded.

Takatsuki Castle began during the Nanboku-cho period as a residence of the Irie clan. In 1569 (Eiroku 12), Wada Koremasa solidified its foundation as a castle, and in 1573 (Tensho 1), Takayama Ukon built a fortified castle that even incorporated the merchant town houses within its perimeter. Ukon was a devout Christian, and records left by missionaries note that he built a church in the castle town. During the Edo period, it became the only early-modern castle in the Hokusetsu region. After Nagai Naokiyo entered the castle in 1649 (Keian 2), it served as the seat of the Nagai family, a fudai daimyo of the 36,000-koku Takatsuki Domain, across 13 generations until the end of the Edo period. A white, three-story tenshu (castle keep) once towered here, but in 1874 (Meiji 7), its stone walls were demolished to be used as materials for building a railway, and no moats or stone walls of the castle remain above ground today.

The area with stone walls and a pond on the south side of the park corresponds to the site of the castle's Sannomaru (outermost bailey). Residences of principal retainers once stood side by side in the Sannomaru.

Viewing and Experience Points

• ​Stone walls and pond modeled after the moat​​: The centerpiece of the park is a zone featuring stone walls and a pond built to resemble the moats of Takatsuki Castle. Walking paths and benches surround the area, allowing you to stroll while imagining the appearance of the castle's water moats.
• ​Statue of Takayama Ukon​​: The bronze statue of Takayama Ukon holding a cross-shaped sword serves as the symbol of the park. Identical statues also exist in Manila in the Philippines, Takaoka City in Toyama Prefecture, Shika Town in Ishikawa Prefecture, and Shodoshima Island in Kagawa Prefecture.
• ​History and Folklore Museum and the Engineer Regiment Gate​​: The History and Folklore Museum inside the park is a restored merchant house from the mid-Edo period originally built within the castle town and later relocated here; it is designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of the city. On the north side of the park remains the main gate of the Imperial Japanese Army's 4th Engineer Regiment, which was stationed on the site of Takatsuki Castle beginning in 1909 (Meiji 42).

Tips for Exploring

The castle's Ninomaru (second bailey) site once held the palace where the domain lord resided and conducted governmental affairs. The North Building of the Takatsuki Castle Park Arts and Culture Theater, which stands there today, incorporates water moats, stone walls, and tile-roofed walls into its architectural design. About 240 meters north of the park is the Takatsuki City Shiroato History Museum, where you can view models and historical maps of Takatsuki Castle. Grasping the overall layout of the castle there before walking through the park will help you better imagine how it looked in those days.