Ogawa Castle

Ogawa Castle is a medieval fortification in Chita District situated within Higashiura town, featuring earthen ramparts and multiple defensive areas. The ruins spread across gentle hills in a residential neighborhood and show clear divisions including two main enclosures, an outer bailey, and several compounds that once housed clan retainers.

The fortress was built between 1469 and 1487 by Sadamori Mizuno and served as the Mizuno clan residence for more than 130 years. It was abandoned in 1606 when the family relocated from the region.

The relocated castle gate now stands at Kenkon-in Temple, which served as the Mizuno family temple and holds the graves of four generations of the clan.

The site is about 15 minutes walk from Ogawa Station on the JR Taketoyo Line or accessible via the Higashiura-Chita interchange by car. Since the ruins sit within a residential area, visitors should be respectful and stick to marked paths where available.

The castle ruins show an unusual layout with two separate main enclosures rather than a single central stronghold. This arrangement reveals how the Mizuno clan organized their living and defensive spaces during the Sengoku period.