Obama Castle, Japanese castle in Obama, Japan
Obama Castle was a seaside castle on a delta formed by the Kita, Tada and Minami Rivers in Obama, Fukui Prefecture. Its inner bailey held a 29-meter three-story donjon, and stone ramparts about 11 meters high enclosed a site of 62,492 square meters. Today only the outer stone wall of the inner bailey remains, a low line of irregular grey and tan stones with plants in the crevices.
The castle was founded in 1601 and later served as the seat of the Sakai clan, who governed the territory for over two centuries. Their rule came to an end in 1871 when the feudal system was dismantled across the country.
The castle's name Unpin Castle comes from Unpin, the delta district where it stood. The domain school Junzōkan's main gate was moved and now serves as the Junzō Gate of Fukui Prefectural Wakasa High School. A shoin entrance from the castle was also relocated to Tada-ji temple in the city.
The site is easily reached on foot in around 15 minutes from Obama Station or by car in a few minutes from the highway interchange. The flat surroundings and central location make it simple to include in a day's visit.
The shrine in the inner bailey honours Sakai Tadakatsu, the first Obama daimyō, and was built in 1875, four years after the fire and the same year the surviving donjon was sold off. The castle site became a prefectural historic site in 1956.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,746 contributors worldwide.
