Karasawa Castle

Karasawa Castle is a hilltop ruin in Sano, Japan, with stone walls that enclose defensive terraces and ditches. The tallest walls rise several meters high and stand on foundations that climb the slope.

The site began in the tenth century and was expanded in the sixteenth century when it withstood ten sieges. Its military role ended when a new fortress was built in the plain.

A shrine dedicated to Fujiwara Hidezato occupies what was once the main bailey and draws local worshippers. Visitors walk paths that thread between worship grounds and remnants of old defensive layers.

The ruins sit on a hill that takes about forty minutes on foot from the nearest train station. Parking areas are available near the entrance and viewpoints look out over distant countryside.

The high stone walls are uncommon for the Kanto region and reflect building methods from western Japan. This technique spread through connections with Hideyoshi in the late sixteenth century.

Location: Sano

Inception: 927

Part of: Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles, Siete famosos castillos de Kantō

Website: https://city.sano.lg.jp/kurashi_gyosei/kanko_bunka_sports/bunka_dento/karasawa

GPS coordinates: 36.35380,139.60030

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:27