Koromo Castle, Japanese mountain castle in Toyota, Japan
Koromo Castle sits on Dojiyama hill with stone foundations supporting a reconstructed two-story guard tower and a central gate overlooking the Yasaku River. The location now functions as part of the Toyota Municipal Museum of Art.
Naito Masamitsu built the fortification in 1782 after gaining control of the Koromo domain under Naito clan rule. The structure remained in place through the late Edo period until the Meiji Restoration transformed the region.
The main gate was designed with dimensions that allowed passage of six-meter festival floats during annual local celebrations. This connection between defensive design and community traditions remains visible in the architecture today.
The castle grounds are accessible and part of the Toyota Municipal Museum of Art with no admission required. A preserved section of the original moat helps visitors understand how the fortification once functioned.
From the tower position, observers could see across seven different provinces, which led to its alternative name Shichishu-jo meaning Castle of Seven Provinces. This broad vantage point made it strategically valuable for monitoring distant territories.
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