Overview

Kuwana Castle is a flatland castle located in Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture, built at the strategic mouth of the Ibi River facing Ise Bay. In 1601 (Keichō 6), Honda Tadakatsu was appointed lord by Tokugawa Ieyasu and launched an extensive construction program. The castle developed into a formidable early modern fortress featuring a four-story, six-floor keep surrounded by 24 two-story corner turrets. It also functioned as a sea castle that incorporated the Shichiri-no-Watashi ferry landing within its grounds, serving as a strategic hub controlling maritime traffic across Ise Bay.

History

Kuwana had been a vital waterway node since medieval times, with Nagashima Ikkō-ikki strongholds in the vicinity during the Sengoku period. After the Honnō-ji Incident, successive Toyotomi administrators held the castle. Honda Tadakatsu, rewarded for his service at the Battle of Sekigahara (1600), entered with an 110,000-koku domain and began full-scale construction in 1601. After Tadakatsu's death, his son Tadamasa succeeded him, and the Matsudaira (Okudaira) clan subsequently held the domain through the end of the Edo period, when Kuwana flourished as a castle town of 100,000 koku. During the Boshin War (1868), domain lord Matsudaira Sadaaki's pro-shogunate stance as Kyoto shoshidai caused Kuwana domain to be branded an enemy of the imperial court. The castle was demolished after the Meiji Restoration. Today the site is preserved as Kyūka Park, with a restored Banryū turret.

Structure and Features

The castle originally occupied a river delta at the mouth of the Ibi River, using water moats and Ise Bay itself as natural defenses — a classic "water castle." The four-story, six-floor keep was among the largest in the Tōkai region at the time, with 24 two-story turrets enclosing the honmaru, ninomaru, and sannomaru enclosures in a complex layout. As the eastern gateway to the Shichiri-no-Watashi ferry crossing on the Ise Kaidō road, the castle town thrived economically as a junction with the Tōkaidō highway. The stone walls combined nozurazumi (natural stone) and sangi-zumi (corner stacking) techniques, and portions survive today in Kyūka Park.

Connection to Swords

The first lord, Honda Tadakatsu, is counted among the "Four Heavenly Kings of Tokugawa" and "Sixteen Divine Generals of Tokugawa" — one of the era's most formidable commanders, said to have fought in more than 57 battles without sustaining a single wound. His prized spear, Tonbokiri (Dragonfly Cutter), is ranked among the three greatest spears in Japan and is currently housed at the Tokugawa Museum in Mito. The establishment of Honda's martial culture in the castle town contributed to the concentration of craftsmen dealing in armor and swords in the Kuwana area. The castle's position on trade routes across Ise Bay also made it a node in the distribution network for swords and weapons.

Access and Current Status

The site is now Kyūka Park, retaining portions of stone walls, moats, and a restored Banryū turret. Approximately 15 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Nagoya Line or JR Kansai Main Line Kuwana Station. Free entry.

* Image is for illustrative purposes only.

City-designated historic siteKansai

Kuwana Castle

桑名城

Lord

Honda Tadakatsu; Matsudaira (Okudaira) clan

Era

Edo period (founded 1601)

Designation

City-designated historic site

Location

Yoshinomaru, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture

Access

Approx. 15-minute walk from Kintetsu Nagoya Line or JR Kansai Main Line Kuwana Station. Now open free as Kyūka Park.

Kuwana Castle is a historic castle in Kansai dating from the Edo period (founded 1601), whose lord was Honda Tadakatsu; Matsudaira (Okudaira) clan.

Overview

History

Structure and Features

Connection to Swords

Access and Current Status

Connection to Swords

First lord Honda Tadakatsu was a leading figure among the Four Heavenly Kings of Tokugawa, famous as the owner of Tonbokiri (Dragonfly Cutter), one of the three greatest spears in Japan. His martial culture fostered a concentration of sword and armor craftsmen in the castle town.