Takatsuki City Shiroato History Museum

In short

A history museum standing in a corner of the former sannomaru (tertiary bailey) site of Takatsuki Castle. It presents the history of Takatsuki from the Sengoku period through the Edo period using historical materials and models. The permanent exhibition consists of six sections, allowing visitors to learn broadly about the region's historical path, from the castle and castle town to the Saigoku Kaido, the Yodo River, and Takatsuki's industries.

• ​Restoration Model of Takatsuki Castle​​: In the "Takatsuki Castle and Its People" section, Takatsuki Castle during the Edo period is introduced through a restoration model and chronological tables. There are also exhibits on the former castle lord Takayama Ukon and the Nagai clan, the feudal lords of the Edo period
• ​Akutagawa Castle and the Miyoshi Clan​​: The history of the Akutagawa Castle Ruins, a designated National Historic Site that served as the residence of Miyoshi Nagayoshi during the Sengoku period, is introduced through excavated artifacts and replicas of portraits. The museum also has the stamp for the Akutagawayama Castle Ruins, listed as one of the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles
• ​Boats That Traversed the Yodo River​​: The Yodo River Sanjikkokubune Boat and the Kurawankabune Boat are displayed as one-third scale models. Representative industries of Takatsuki, such as sake brewing in Tonda, agar-agar (kanten) production in the mountain areas, and Kosobe-yaki ceramics, are also showcased

History and Highlights

​Takatsuki City Shiroato History Museum​ is a history museum standing in a corner of the former sannomaru (tertiary bailey) site of Takatsuki Castle, an area that still retains traces of the former castle town. In addition to presenting the history of Takatsuki from the Sengoku period through the Edo period using historical materials and models, it also collects, preserves, researches, and studies cultural properties found across the city.

Takatsuki Castle is known for having had the Christian daimyo Takayama Ukon as its castle lord. During the Edo period, it served as the only early modern castle in Hokusetsu, ruled by the fudai daimyo Nagai family until the end of the Tokugawa shogunate. Traces of an outer moat from Ukon's era were uncovered around the museum, measuring as wide as 24 meters. Ukon's Takatsuki Castle was heavily fortified with a wide outer moat and inner moat.

The permanent exhibition consists of six sections, allowing visitors to learn broadly about the region's historical path, from the castle and castle town to the Saigoku Kaido, the Yodo River, and Takatsuki's industries.

Viewing and Experience Highlights

• ​Restoration Model of Takatsuki Castle​​: In the "Takatsuki Castle and Its People" section, Takatsuki Castle during the Edo period is introduced through a restoration model and chronological tables. There are also exhibits on the former castle lord Takayama Ukon and the Nagai clan, the feudal lords of the Edo period.
• ​Akutagawa Castle and the Miyoshi Clan​​: The history of the Akutagawa Castle Ruins, a designated National Historic Site that served as the residence of Miyoshi Nagayoshi during the Sengoku period, is introduced through excavated artifacts and replicas of portraits. The museum also offers the official stamp for the Akutagawayama Castle Ruins, which is listed as one of the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles.
• ​Boats That Traversed the Yodo River​​: In the "The Yodo River and Water Transport" section, Yodo River Sanjikkokubune Boat and Kurawankabune Boat are displayed as one-third scale models. In the "People's Livelihoods and Daily Life" section, representative industries of Takatsuki are showcased, such as sake brewing in Tonda, agar-agar (kanten) production in the mountain areas, and Kosobe-yaki ceramics.

Travel Tips

It is about a 10-minute walk south from Hankyu Takatsuki-shi Station and about a 15-minute walk southeast from JR Takatsuki Station. About 240 meters south of the museum lies Takatsuki Castle Park, which spans the site of Takatsuki Castle. Viewing the castle models and exhibits at the museum to grasp the castle's full layout before walking around the park makes it easier to imagine what it looked like in the past. It is also recommended to trace the castle's history further back and visit the Sengoku-period mountain fortress, the Akutagawayama Castle Ruins.