* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Otaki Castle
大多喜城
Otaki Castle is a historic castle in Kantō dating from the Founded in 1521 by Marikiya Nobukiyo as Odaki Castle; renovated in 1590 by Honda Tadakatsu, whose lord was Honda Tadakatsu / Abe family / Matsudaira (Okōchi) family.
Overview
Otaki Castle is a mountain castle located in Otaki Town, Isumi District, Chiba Prefecture, and played an important role in the history of Kazusa Province from the Sengoku period through the Edo period. The castle is believed to have been originally founded around 1521 by Marikiya Nobukiyo of the Marikiya clan as Odaki Castle, but it was Honda Tadakatsu, one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's Four Heavenly Kings, who undertook the major reorganization and fortification of the castle.
Honda Tadakatsu is renowned among the samurai who served Tokugawa Ieyasu as the most accomplished in martial prowess, earning the titles "master of the spear" and "the unscarred warrior." In 1590 (Tenshō 18), as part of Ieyasu's relocation to the Kantō region, Tadakatsu was granted 100,000 koku in Kazusa Otaki and made Otaki Castle his residence. The fortifications that Tadakatsu implemented at Otaki Castle were solidly constructed and reflected his practical tactical vision.
One notable episode connected to Otaki Castle is the "Otaki Water Incident." During Toyotomi Hideyoshi's siege of Odawara, when the Toyotomi forces besieging the castle of the Satomi clan, which had initially refused to surrender, attempted to cut off the castle's water supply, a large amount of water suddenly flowed from within the castle. This incident occurred not during Tadakatsu's time but under his predecessor; however, the legend of the castle's abundant water supply has been passed down to the present day.
Furthermore, Otaki Castle is also known for the historical event when the Spanish diplomatic envoy Don Rodrigo was shipwrecked there in 1609, and was received as a guest by Honda Tadatomo (the second son of Honda Tadakatsu), the local lord at that time. Don Rodrigo later returned to Spain as Viceroy of Mexico, and recorded in his chronicle "Japanese Observations" the conditions of Otaki Castle and Kazusa. The role that Otaki played in early Japanese-Spanish diplomacy merits attention from an international perspective.
Connection to Swords
The connection between Otaki Castle and swords originates in the legendary martial prowess of Honda Tadakatsu and his devotion to the culture of spears and swords. Honda Tadakatsu is counted among "Japan's strongest warriors," and his symbol is the celebrated polearm he favored, called the Tonbo Kiri (Dragonfly Cutter). The Tonbo Kiri is known as one of the Three Great Spears of Japan, earning its name from the legend that when a flying dragonfly touched its blade, it would be sliced cleanly in two. This celebrated spear is now in private hands and is held on deposit at the Sano Art Museum in Shizuoka Prefecture. Tadakatsu's dedication to weaponry extended beyond the spear; he also possessed exceptional discernment in swords and blades. As one of the Tokugawa Four Heavenly Kings, Tadakatsu received numerous masterwork katana from Ieyasu, and the armory of Otaki Castle held top-tier blades. Even after becoming lord of Otaki Castle, it is said that many sword smiths, drawn by his renown, presented masterwork blades to him. The sword culture of the Honda family was passed down to Tadakatsu's son, Honda Tadatomo. When Tadatomo received the Spanish diplomatic envoy Don Rodrigo, it is said he presented Japanese swords as gifts, noted as an early example of Japanese sword export abroad. The tenshu museum of Otaki Castle displays weapons and blades connected to the Honda family, conveying both the military prowess and cultural refinement of "the Unparalleled General" Honda Tadakatsu to the present day. The Otaki Town area was throughout the Edo period a region where many master smiths were active, producing not only swords but also agricultural implements and carpentry tools. This artisan culture forms the foundation of modern Otaki's craft industries, and the historical connection between the castle and sword-making lives on as living regional culture.
Highlights
- Otaki Castle Tenshu (1975 reconstruction) — Museum displaying weapons and blades connected to Honda Tadakatsu
- Historic sites connected to Honda Tadakatsu — Ruins of the "Unparalleled General" scattered throughout the castle town
- Otaki Station on the Isumi Railway — Scenic walks from this charming local-line station into the castle town
- Yakui Gate (Honda family structure) — Surviving yakui-mon architectural structure connected to the Honda family
- Site connected to Don Rodrigo — Gaining international attention as the stage for Japan's first Spanish-Japanese diplomatic exchange
- Natural beauty of Otaki — Castle town scenery surrounded by rich nature, including the Yōrō Gorge
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.