Saga Castle (Saga-jō) is a Japanese castle located in Saga City, Saga
Prefecture, Japan. It is a hiraijiro, a castle built on a plains rather
than a hill or mountain, and is surrounded by a wall rather than being built
above a stone base. Saga castle was home to the Nabeshima clan, daimyo of Saga
Domain.
After the Meiji Restoration, the castle remained the location for the local
government offices. However, the castle was occupied in 1874 by former
politician and samurai Etō Shinpei and his following of disgruntled samurai in
the Saga Rebellion. The rebels were defeated by military force, during which
most of the buildings in the castle were burned down.
From 2001 to 2004 the main portion of the castle was restored. It is now
houses the Saga Castle History Museum and is the largest wooden castle
reconstruction in Japan.
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Saga Castle.
Completed in 1611, Saga Castle, set in the center of Saga City, was a castle built on level ground. Story has it that the keep of the castle measured 126m and its north and southern sections, 122m. A five layered castle tower has been said to have existed in the north western section, with a stone wall measuring approximately 9 meters in height. Surrounded by 80m wide moats and embankments, the notable castle also was known as a "sinking castle".
- Due to continuous fire calamities, however, the castle was destroyed and dismantled to the point where today, only the main gate called the "Shachi Gate", the Tsuzukiyagura (continuing castle tower) and the stone walls remain.
- The "Shachi Gate" is 25.4m wide and 4.45m deep. The fence is deeply painted and bronze orcs, from where the gate gets its name, can be found placed on both ridgepoles.
- On the sturdy gate and its doors are bullet marks from the Battle of Saga (a revolt of samurais against the modern Japanese government) which broke out in 1874. This gate and the continuing castle tower have been designated as National Important Cultural Assets.
- Presently, the entire embankment which surround the ruins of the castle have are part of the Prefectural Saga Castle Park.
- Along the moat lie giant camphor trees, estimated as being over 300 years old, which are designated as natural monuments.
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See also
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Location
