Fushimi Castle, Japanese castle in Fushimi district, Kyoto, Japan
Fushimi Castle is a reinforced concrete castle in Fushimi-ku district, Kyoto, Japan, standing on Momoyama Hill and symbolizing the connection between regional trade routes. The stone foundations and some wall sections remain visible, while the modern building parts were erected in the 20th century and are now partly replaced or overshadowed by the Imperial mausoleum.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered the original structure built from 1592 onward and died there in 1598 after several versions of the construction had emerged. The complex changed structure and ownership multiple times until it was largely abandoned following a fire in 1623.
The name comes from the Fushimi district, which has been known for sake brewing for centuries. Some visitors walk the paths on the hill that are partly open today, and they notice the historical connection between military architecture and the later religious use of the site.
You can reach the site on foot in about 15 minutes from Momoyama Station on the JR Nara Line or in 20 minutes from Tambabashi Station. The main areas remain closed due to the Imperial tomb, but you can walk the hill paths during daylight hours.
The Imperial tomb of Emperor Meiji has stood on the grounds since the early 20th century and largely overlays the old fortification structures. The concrete walls and gates visible today were reconstructed in the 1960s, long after the original wooden buildings had disappeared.
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