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Utsunomiya Castle is a Japanese castle that once existed in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture. The current Utsunomiya Castle ruins have been developed into the Utsunomiya Castle Ruins Park. You can see restored turrets and earthworks in the park.
It is also a famous spot for cherry blossom viewing, and is illuminated every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from sunset until 9pm.
Utsunomiya Castle flourished as the residence of the Utsunomiya clan from the late Heian period, and in the early modern period it underwent major renovations by Masazumi Honda, a vassal of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and was reborn as a magnificent castle. However, many parts have been lost due to modern wars and urban development, and now only part of the earthworks remains.
In the Heisei era, part of Utsunomiya Castle was restored due to the enthusiasm of the citizens. The Seimeidai, Fujimi Yagura, stone walls, earthworks, earthen walls, moat, and other features have been recreated, allowing you to feel the breath of history.
The park is very spacious and covered in greenery, making it a great environment for children to play.
There was still a plaza in the back of this plaza.
The exterior of the earthwork has been restored, and you can climb up the earthwork using stairs.
If you look from above, you can see that the square is very large.
A passage has been built on the earthworks, allowing you to go to Fujimi Yagura and Seimeidai.
This turret was located on the northwest side of the earthworks of Utsunomiya Castle’s main enclosure.
The earthworks where Seimeidai Yagura was located were built higher than other parts, and it is said that it may have served as a castle tower during the Edo period.
This turret was located in the southwestern part of the earthworks of Utsunomiya Castle’s main enclosure.
As the name Fujimi Yagura suggests, on clear days you can see Mt. Fuji from the turret.
The moat surrounds the Honmaru, Ninomaru, and Sannomaru, and is approximately 10 meters wide and 5 meters deep. A stone wall was built at the bottom of the moat to prevent invasion by foreign enemies.
The moat has been renovated and expanded many times during the history of Utsunomiya Castle. In particular, during the Edo period, Masazumi Honda carried out extensive renovations, bringing it closer to its current appearance.
At Utsunomiya Castle Ruins Park, part of the moat has been restored and you can get a glimpse of what it looked like back then. Trees such as cherry blossoms and autumn leaves are planted around the moat, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful scenery of each season.
The museum is a tourist information center located within Utsunomiya Castle Ruins Park. Tourist information and pamphlets are distributed around Utsunomiya Castle Ruins Park, and exhibits about Utsunomiya’s culture are held.
Exhibition of flame drum floats(japanese: 火焔太鼓山車, Kaen daiko yamaguruma) and Momotaro floats(japanese: 桃太郎山車, Momotaro yamaguruma) used in Utsunomiya’s largest festival “Kikusui Festival”
It’s about a 20 minute walk from JR Utsunomiya Station, so you can stop by while strolling around Utsunomiya city.
If you want to go directly to Utsunomiya Castle from the station, you can easily get there by using the city circulation bus called Kibuna.
Buses run every 20-30 minutes. Depending on the waiting time, it may be faster to walk.
Utsunomiya Castle Ruins Park conveys the majesty of Utsunomiya Castle, which was once counted as one of the Seven Great Castles in Kanto.
With cherry blossoms in full bloom in the spring and autumn leaves turning fiery colors in the fall, the park feels as if it has stepped into the world of a historical picture scroll. You can enjoy a stroll while feeling the history, relax on the lawn, and spend your time however you like.
Seimeidai, Fujimi Yagura, earthworks, and moat were restored with the enthusiasm of citizens. Be sure to visit the ruins of Utsunomiya Castle, which was once visited by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu.
