Uto Castle, Japanese castle ruins in Uto, Japan

Uto Castle stands as the remains of a hilltop fortress marked by stone walls and moats arranged in three concentric levels. The surviving structures demonstrate how the site was strategically positioned, with layered defensive zones that once protected the occupants.

The fortress was founded in 1588 by Konishi Yukinaga as an important military and naval base. Control passed to Kato Kiyomasa following political shifts in the region, marking a transition in leadership during the early modern period.

The bronze statue of Konishi Yukinaga in the park is an imaginary portrait made to evoke the daimyo, not a likeness. Because he was Toyotomi's naval commander, the figure turns its back on Uto's streets and faces the sea. The castle's name is also written 城山 (Shiroyama) and 鶴城 (Tsurujō), the crane castle, after the shape of the medieval and early modern fortifications.

The site now operates as a public park and is accessible by bus from JR Uto Station, followed by a short walk to the top. Comfortable footwear is recommended since the grounds are situated on a slope with a parking area nearby for vehicles.

The 1998 excavation on the north side of Senjōjiki uncovered a half-dug moat abandoned mid-construction, showing late 16th-century engineering. Nearby, over 100 stone pagoda pieces were found dumped into a moat, likely from a ritual marking the castle's demolition.