Takaoka Castle

Takaoka Castle was built by Maeda Toshinaga, the second lord of Kaga Domain, in 1609 as his retirement residence. Toshinaga selected a strategic location on elevated ground between the Shokawa and Senpo rivers and completed the castle in just six months. The fortress featured three large artificial moats covering approximately one-third of the total castle area, employing cutting-edge defensive engineering of the era. The castle name derives from a phrase in the ancient Chinese text Shijing: "The phoenix sings on that high ridge." Though Toshinaga spent only five years at Takaoka Castle before his death in 1614, he established the foundations of a thriving castle town. The castle was abandoned in 1615 following the One Castle per Province Edict, but his brother Toshitsune transformed it into a commercial and industrial center. Today, Takaoka remains a noted center for traditional crafts and heritage industries.