* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Furumiya Castle
古宮城
Furumiya Castle is a historic castle in Chūbu dating from the 1571 (Genki 2) to approximately 1575 (Tenshō 3), when it was abandoned, whose lord was Takeda Shingen (builder); garrisoned by retainers including Obata Matabē, Amari Saemon, and Okudaira Mimasaka-no-kami.
Overview
Overview and Location
Furumiya Castle (古宮城) is a Sengoku-period hilltop fortress located in Tsukude-Kiyooka, Shinshiro City, Aichi Prefecture, built on a low rise approximately 30 meters in elevation. It is believed to have been constructed around 1571 (Genki 2) by Takeda Shingen to secure the Tsukude basin, a strategic crossroads linking Mikawa Province with Shinano and Tōtōmi. The castle was selected as Continued 100 Famous Castle No. 150 in 2017.
Construction and the Takeda Invasion of Mikawa
The Tsukude area had long been controlled by the Okudaira clan, Tokugawa allies based at nearby Kameyama Castle. Takeda Shingen built Furumiya Castle independently as a forward base to counter the Okudaira and Tokugawa Ieyasu, establishing it as the front line of the Takeda invasion of Mikawa. Construction is traditionally attributed to the retainer Baba Nobufusa (Nobuharu), whose layout is said to resemble a compact version of Tōtōmi Province's Suwahara Castle.
Lords and Garrison Commanders
Clear records of castle lords are scarce, but tradition holds that retainers including Obata Matabē, Amari Saemon, and Okudaira Mimasaka-no-kami garrisoned the fortress. In 1573 (Tenshō 1), when Okudaira Sadayoshi and his son Nobumasa defected back from the Takeda to the Tokugawa, the situation in Tsukude grew unstable. Following the Takeda defeat at the Battle of Nagashino in 1575, Furumiya Castle is believed to have been abandoned.
Structural Features
The castle spans approximately 250 meters east-west and 200 meters north-south, and exhibits hallmark Takeda construction techniques: rounded masugata-style gates, multiple layered earthen ramparts and dry moats, and numerous vertical moats (tatebori). Its distinctive layout divides the site into eastern and western enclosure groups separated by a central moat, widely regarded by castle researchers as a representative example of Takeda fortification technique.
Connections to Swords and Arms
As the front-line base of Takeda Shingen's Mikawa campaign, Furumiya Castle likely accumulated arms and swords brought in from Kai and Shinano provinces. The Obata and Amari clans, both hereditary Takeda retainers said to have garrisoned the castle, suggest that Furumiya served as an outpost transmitting Takeda military sword culture to the Mikawa frontier.
Current State and Highlights
Now preserved as a Shinshiro City Historic Site, the earthen ramparts, moats, and vertical moat clusters survive in good condition. The Tsukude Museum of History and Folklore displays materials on the surrounding cluster of mountain castles, allowing visitors to trace the Takeda invasion route through the region alongside a visit to Furumiya Castle.
Connection to Swords
As the front line of Takeda Shingen's Mikawa campaign, Furumiya Castle likely received arms and swords from Kai and Shinano. The Obata and Amari clans said to have garrisoned it were hereditary Takeda retainers, suggesting the site transmitted Takeda military sword culture to the Mikawa frontier.
Highlights
- Continued 100 Famous Castle No. 150; Shinshiro City Historic Site
- Attributed to Takeda Shingen, laid out by retainer Baba Nobufusa
- Rounded masugata gates with layered earthworks and vertical moats
- Compact, technically sophisticated double-enclosure layout resembling Suwahara Castle
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.