Kiyosu Castle, Reconstructed medieval castle in Kiyosu, Japan
Kiyosu Castle is a four-story wooden fortress in Aichi Prefecture, built at the junction of important historic routes linking Kyoto, Kamakura and Ise. The structure features a traditional roof system with curved lines and white walls, while inside several floors connected by narrow staircases and open rooms present exhibits.
Shiba Yoshishige founded the fortress in 1405 as a strategic post to control the Owari region. From 1555 onward Oda Nobunaga used the site as a starting point for his military campaigns, which eventually led to the unification of Japan in the 16th century.
The castle carries a name that derives from the earlier place name, which literally translates as "pure swamp" and reflects the marshland that once surrounded the fortress. Today local festivals often incorporate samurai reenactments in the courtyard below the timber tower.
Access to all four levels involves steep wooden stairs, so visitors should wear sturdy shoes and take care. The best time to visit is on weekdays outside Japanese public holidays, when fewer people enter the narrow rooms.
The 1989 reconstruction includes a diorama theater that shows the arrangement of Owari Province during the warlord period. This recreated landscape was crafted with detailed miniatures portraying the road network and neighboring fortresses of that era.
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