This castle was protected by high stone walls using large stones and an elaborate defense system
Features
High Stone Walls still surround Castle Ruins
Today, the ruins of Matsusaka Castle have been developed into Matsusaka Park, which was the main portion of the castle on the hill. If you walk around the outside of the park, you may be surprised to see the high stone walls surrounding the park remain in good condition. The walls are piled using round natural stones which are large and uncountable. It is surprising that they were collected and piled so elaborately in a short time during the construction. In addition, the stone walls of the southeastern corner of the park were repaired using processed rectangular stones in the later stage of the castle’s history.
The stone walls seen outside of the parkThe stone walls of the lower tier of the Main Enclosure, which use large stonesThe repaired stone walls at the southeastern corner of the park
The aerial photo around the castle
Layout of Enclosures
The ruins have only the foundation with the stone walls without any buildings. However, you can still understand how the castle was protected by seeing these stone walls along the routes in the park. There are two entrances of the park, one is the Front Gate Ruins at the eastern side and the other one is the Back Gate Ruins at the southern side. Either of them lead to the Second Enclosure first. Towards the center of the castle, the lower tier of the Main Enclosure is higher than the Second Enclosure. The upper tier of the Main Enclosure is the highest. In addition, the Kitai and Inkyo Enclosures are at the lower part on the opposite side of the Second Enclosure.
The diorama of the castle’s enclosures with stone walls, exhibited by Matsusaka City Museum of History and FolkloreThe Front Gate RuinsThe Back Gate Ruins
Going to Second Enclosure from Front Gate Ruins
If you enter the Second Enclosure from the Front Gate Ruins surrounded by alternating stone walls, you will see the high stone walls of the lower tier of the Main Enclosure in front of you. To go to the center of the Second Enclosure, you have to turn left and pass one more ruined gate beside the Tsukimi Turret Ruins on the stone walls. If you were an enemy, you would be attacked from two directions. That means the routes inside the castle were made very defensive.
Entering the Front Gate RuinsThe stone walls of the Main Enclosure lower tier stand in front of youTurn left to go to the Second EnclosureThe high stone walls of the Tsukimi Turret RuinsThe route to the Second Enclosure from the Front Gate (the red arrow) and the counterattack from the castle (the blue arrows)
Going to Main Enclosure from Front Second Enclosure
The Second Enclosure had the Encampment of the Tokugawa Clan. It is now a square with a wisteria trellis where you can see a city view.
The present Second EnclosureThe signpost of the ruins of Tokugawa Clan’s encampmentA city view from the Second Enclosure
If you want to go inside further, you need to pass the Nakagomon Gate Ruins. This route is also surrounded by alternating stone walls and the ruins of a turret called Taiko-Yagura. After passing it, the lower tier is on the right and the upper tier is on the left of the Main Enclosure.
The Nakagomon Gate RuinsThe Taiko Turret RuinsLooking down The Nakagomon Gate Ruins from the Taiko Turret RuinsThe route to the Main Enclosure from the Second Enclosure (the red arrows) and the counterattack from the castle (the blue arrows)
