* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Obama Castle
小浜城
Obama Castle is a historic castle in Chūbu dating from the Early Edo Period (Keichō–Kan'ei era, early 17th century), whose lord was Kyōgoku Takatsugu (built 1601) → Sakai Tadakatsu (entered domain 1634).
Overview
Obama Castle (Obamajō) is an early Edo-period coastal castle (umijiro) located in Obama City, Fukui Prefecture, built in Keicho 6 (1601) by Kyōgoku Takatsugu, lord of Wakasa Province. Situated at the mouth of Obama Harbor on Wakasa Bay, surrounded on three sides by the sea and the Minami and Kita rivers, it was known as a water castle and also referred to as a "castle floating on the sea." The three-tiered tower stood until the Meiji Restoration but was dismantled and removed under the Abolition of Feudal Domains order in Meiji 7 (1874). Since Sakai Tadakatsu assumed control of the domain in Kankei 11 (1634), the castle served as the administrative seat of Obama Domain (113,500 koku) until the Meiji Restoration. Today the tower platform stone walls and main citadel stone walls remain in good condition. The site is designated a historic site of Fukui Prefecture and known as a representative early-modern castle of Wakasa region. The panoramic view of Wakasa Bay from the castle ruins is also a notable attraction, and it has become one of the major tourism centers of Obama City.
Connection to Swords
Wakasa Province, where Obama Castle stands, has documented connections to Japanese sword production through a regional smithing tradition known as the Wakasa school. Smiths working in Wakasa were active from the Kamakura through Muromachi periods, supported by the province's iron-working and forging heritage. Obama Domain lord Sakai Tadakatsu served as a senior Tokugawa councilor (rōjū), and domain records preserve references to the sword collection maintained by the Sakai family. Wakasa's geographical proximity to Kyoto — the center of sword appraisal culture in the Edo period — meant that the aesthetics of blade connoisseurship permeated this coastal domain more deeply than more remote provinces. Obama Castle thus sits at the crossroads of Hokuriku and Kinki sword culture.
Highlights
- Tower platform stone walls — well-preserved foundation stones of the original three-tiered tower, with panoramic views of Wakasa Bay
- Main citadel stone walls — imposing nozurazumi and sangi-zumi stonework rising approximately 20 meters
- Wakasa Bay panorama — sweeping views of the bay, sea, and Obama cityscape from the tower platform
- Obama City Library (adjacent to castle ruins) — historical records relating to Obama Domain and the Sakai clan
- Obama City History and Culture Museum — exhibits on Wakasa history, cultural assets, and sword-related materials
- Sotomo boat tour — scenic coastal excursion through the sea caves and cliffs of Obama Bay, a classic pairing with the castle visit
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.