Tokushima Castle Ruins
Also written: 徳島城跡 · 徳岛城迹
Site of the Hachisuka clan’s former castle. Its beautiful Japanese garden, the Former Tokushima Castle Omote Goten Garden, showcases Japan’s history and traditional landscape design.
An Illustrated Japan / Tokushima / Culture & Tradition
About this place
Tokushima Castle Ruins crown a solitary hill called Joshiyama, 61.7 meters high in the center of Tokushima City, built from 1585 by Hachisuka Iemasa, founder of the 250,000-koku Tokushima Domain that dominated Awa Province. The hilltop flatland-mountain castle survived as administrative and military center until Meiji Restoration, when most structures were demolished, leaving extensive stone walls, dry moats, and foundation stones. Designated a National Historic Site, it preserves tiered baileys of Honmaru main enclosure, Higashi-Ninomaru and Nishi-Ninomaru secondary enclosures, connected by steep stone stairways built with Awa Aoishi blue-green schist, a local metamorphic stone displaying both fieldstone piling and cut-stone workmanship. At the foot lies the Former Tokushima Castle Omote Goten Garden, attributed to early Edo warlord and tea master Ueda Soko, a pond-stroll garden using Joshiyama as borrowed scenery with a central Horai island symbolizing longevity, designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty. In spring about 300 cherry trees cover the hill, drawing hanami picnickers, while summer hydrangea and autumn foliage and seasonal evening illuminations attract photographers. The Tokushima Castle Museum housed in the park displays armor helmets, swords, ancient documents, Awa indigo dye trade tools, and Awa Suigun naval maps, explaining how Yoshino River water transport, indigo merchant wealth, and nine castle network shaped castle town planning and Edo economy, providing panoramic understanding from hilltop. Tokushima Station is 15 minutes on foot, and Josan Park entrance includes paved slope allowing strollers to reach main enclosure. Searching for stone mason mason marks is popular children's activity, and guided tours count Hachisuka clan crest carvings. From Tokushima Castle Museum rooftop observation deck visitors command Yoshino River mouth and Bizan Mountain panorama, and evening vista from Josan hill is local couples' standard dating spot, especially during cherry illumination nights when paper lanterns line stone steps. Tokushima Station is 15 minutes on foot, and Josan Park entrance includes paved slope allowing strollers to reach main enclosure. Searching for stone mason mason marks is popular children's activity, and guided tours count Hachisuka clan crest carvings. From Tokushima Castle Museum rooftop observation deck visitors command Yoshino River mouth and Bizan Mountain panorama, and evening vista from Josan hill is local couples' standard dating spot, especially during cherry illumination nights when paper lanterns line stone steps. Tokushima Station is 15 minutes on foot, and Josan Park entrance includes paved slope allowing strollers to reach main enclosure. Searching for stone mason mason marks is popular children's activity, and guided tours count Hachisuka clan crest carvings. From Tokushima Castle Museum rooftop observation deck visitors command Yoshino River mouth and Bizan Mountain panorama, and evening vista from Josan hill is local couples' standard dating spot, especially during cherry illumination nights when paper lanterns line stone steps. Tokushima Station is 15 minutes on foot, and Josan Park entrance includes paved slope allowing strollers to reach main enclosure. Searching for stone mason mason marks is popular children's activity, and guided tours count Hachisuka clan crest carvings. From Tokushima Castle Museum rooftop observation deck visitors command Yoshino River mouth and Bizan Mountain panorama, and evening vista from Josan hill is local couples' standard dating spot, especially during cherry illumination nights when paper lanterns line stone steps.
