Iwakitaira Castle, Japanese castle in Iwaki, Japan.
Iwakitaira Castle is a flatland castle that stands on Mount Miruoka, surrounded by three rivers: the Koma River to the north, the Natsuigawa River to the east, and the Shingawa River to the south. The site includes multiple defensive areas that once protected the structure.
The castle was built between 1603 and 1615 by Torii Tadamasa, the first lord of Iwakitaira Domain, to keep watch over Date Masamune's forces in Sendai. During the Boshin War in 1868, the castle superintendent Uesaka Sukesuke set the structure on fire before retreating from advancing Imperial troops.
The main bailey area is now part of Tangozawa Park, where visitors can still see stone walls, earthen fortifications, and moats from the original structure. These remains show how a flatland castle was built and defended.
The ruins are a short one-minute walk from the north exit of JR Iwaki Station on the Joban Line. The grounds are now located within Tangozawa Park and are freely accessible to visitors.
The location was strategically placed to watch over the neighboring Date Masamune domain, making it a key point during the early Edo period because of its position at the border between two power zones. The superintendent's escape and destruction of the buildings show how quickly power shifted during the times of change.
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