* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Komatsu Castle
小松城
Komatsu Castle is a historic castle in Chūbu dating from the Built 1576 (Tensho 4), rebuilt 1639 (Kan'ei 16) by Maeda Toshitsune, abandoned after the Meiji Restoration, whose lord was Maeda Toshitsune.
Overview
Founding
Komatsu Castle, a flatland fortress in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, is said to have been built in 1576 (Tensho 4) by Wakabayashi Naganokami, a commander of the Ikko-ikki forces controlling Kaga Province. At the time, Kaga was a stronghold of the Ikko-ikki movement, and Komatsu Castle served as one of its military bases.
Lords of the Castle
After its founding, the castle was attacked by Shibata Katsuie, a general under Oda Nobunaga, leading to the defeat of the Ikko-ikki forces. The Murakami and then Niwa clans successively held the castle. With the start of the Edo period it became part of the Kaga Domain, but under the 1615 (Genna 1) One Castle per Province Edict it was temporarily abandoned.
Reconstruction by Maeda Toshitsune and the "Floating Castle"
In 1639 (Kan'ei 16), Maeda Toshitsune, the second lord of Kaga Domain, undertook a large-scale reconstruction of Komatsu Castle as his retirement residence. The completed castle grounds were roughly twice the size of Kanazawa Castle, and the fortress was arranged as a "floating castle" (ukijiro), with twelve islands within a marsh spanning more than 100,000 tsubo, connected by stone and wooden bridges.
From the Edo Period to the Meiji Era
After Toshitsune's death, Komatsu Castle became a subsidiary fortress of Kanazawa Castle within Kaga Domain, governed by appointed castle keepers until the Meiji Restoration.
Present Day
Today, the former castle grounds have been developed into the Komatsu City Hall, Roka Park, and Ishikawa Prefectural Komatsu High School, among other uses. The stone platform of the former keep and portions of the inner moat's stone walls survive.
Connection to Swords
Not applicable
Highlights
- Founded as an Ikko-ikki stronghold
- Retirement residence of Maeda Toshitsune
- "Floating castle" twice the size of Kanazawa Castle
- Surviving keep platform and inner moat walls
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.