Tōfukuji Castle, Medieval fortress in Shimizu-chō, Japan

Tōfukuji Castle is a yamajiro, a mountain castle, on the hill in Shimizu-chō that is now Taga-yama Park. Its name comes from the Tōfukuji temple that once stood nearby. The outlines of its kuruwa, the terraced enclosures, remain visible, though park landscaping makes the medieval layout hard for a layperson to read. A stone marker for the castle site and a bronze statue of Tōgō Heihachirō stand in the park.

The castle was built in 1053 during the Heian period and served the region as an important military installation for defense and control. The structure shows how such sites were organized to protect local territories.

The site is now Taga-yama Park, named after the Taga Shrine that Shimazu Yoshihisa had transferred here from Ōmi Province in 1579. A stele marks the Tōfukuji Castle site, and a bronze statue of Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō, a Kagoshima native, stands in the park.

The grounds are accessible via marked paths and visitors should wear comfortable shoes as there are many uneven areas. It helps to arrive in early morning when it is quieter and the structures are easier to see.

The castle was founded in 1053 by Nagahaba Nagasumi, said to be a fourth-generation descendant of Fujiwara no Sumitomo, and is regarded as the first castle in Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga provinces. In 1579 Shimazu Yoshihisa invited the Taga Taisha shrine from Ōmi Province into the grounds, which is why the hill became known as Tagayama.