Jōjō Castle, Japanese castle ruins in Kasugai, Japan
Jojo Castle is the site of a former fortress in Kasugai featuring earthworks, stone foundations, and multiple moats spread across the terrain. The defensive features and their layout reveal the original scale and shape of the installation on an elevated location.
The fortress was founded in 1218 by Osaka Kouzen and later served as a military base during major regional conflicts. It played an important role under the command of Ikeda Tsuneoki during a key conflict in the 16th century.
The castle exemplifies hirashiro design, a building method that placed fortifications on flat ground between rivers rather than on hilltops. Visitors can still see how the moats and earthworks created a defensive system adapted to plains geography.
The ruins are easily accessible on foot, about a seven-minute walk from Kasugai Station on the Chuo Main Line. The site is walkable and allows straightforward exploration of the remaining earthworks and moats.
The central courtyard section is now used as a monthly parking area, a modern function that allows visitors to observe the northern and western moats from the lot. This practical reuse shows how ruins are woven into daily city life.
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