Kawate Castle

Kawate Castle is a medieval fortified site in Gifu with stone foundations and earthen ramparts located next to a local high school. The remains display the typical defensive features of the period with their characteristic layout of fortifications.

The castle was founded in 1353 by Toki Yorinari and served as a regional military base for more than a century. In 1530, its materials were repurposed for the construction of nearby Kano Castle.

The castle demonstrates the architectural principles of medieval Japanese fortifications through its strategic positioning and construction methods typical of the period.

The site is easy to locate as markers and remains are visible throughout the modern city. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since the terrain with earthen mounds is somewhat uneven.

The castle's name can be written using two different kanji characters: 川手城 or 革手城. Despite these different writing forms, the pronunciation Kawate-jo remains the same.

Location: Gifu

Inception: 1353

Architects: Toki Yorinari

GPS coordinates: 35.39545,136.76283

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:06