Ishida Castle, Japanese castle in Fukue, Japan

Ishida Castle is a coastal castle in Gotō, Nagasaki, completed in 1863. It has no keep; a two-story yagura in the honmaru served instead. The Kedashi-mon back gate, some earthen walls and stone bridges remain, and the stone walls use nozura-zumi dry-stone construction with natural rocks.

The fortress was completed in 1863 by the last lord of Fukue Domain, Goto Moritoku, and served as a coastal defense structure against foreign ships. It was one of the last castles built in Japan during a time of major change.

The Ninomaru garden was laid out from 1858 over two years as a retreat for Goto Morinari, built by the Kyoto monk Zensho in imitation of Kinkaku-ji's pond garden. Its pond is cut in the shape of the character for heart, hence Shinji-ga-ike, and the garden is a designated National Place of Scenic Beauty.

The grounds are accessible and house several facilities open year-round with guided tours available. Plan to spend at least a few hours exploring the stone walls, bridges, and gardens at a comfortable pace.

The garden's pond is laid out in the shape of the character for "heart" (kokoro) and is called Shingi-ike, "heart-shaped pond". The garden was built from 1858 over two years as a retirement residence for Goto Morishige, and the monk Zenzo of Kyoto was put in charge of its creation.