| Matsumae Castle 松前城 | |
|---|---|
| Matsumae,Hokkaidō, Japan | |
 | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Hirajiro (flatlandcastle) |
| Condition | The original gate to the inner citadel (itself a reconstruction) and remnants of the stone walls and embankments remain |
| Location | |
  Matsumae Castle 松前城  Matsumae Castle 松前城 | |
| Coordinates | 41°25′47″N140°06′30″E / 41.429833°N 140.108389°E /41.429833; 140.108389 |
| Height | Three stories |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1606 |
| Built by | Matsumae clan |
| In use | 1596 toMeiji Restoration |
| Materials | Earth, stone, and wood |
| Demolished | 1949 |
Matsumae Castle (松前城,Matsumae-jō) is acastle located inMatsumae,Hokkaido, Japan, and is the northernmost castle in Japan.[1] The only traditional styleEdo period castle in Hokkaidō, it was the chief residence of thehan (estate) of theMatsumae clan.
First built in 1606 bydaimyoMatsumae Yoshihiro under orders from theTokugawa shogunate, which required his clan to defend the area, and by extension the whole of Japan, from theAinu "barbarians" to the north. It burned down in 1637 but was rebuilt in 1639. It once controlled all passage through Hokkaidō to the rest of Japan.
The present castle complex, which dates from 1854, was constructed to deter attacks by foreign naval forces. Only the 30-metre-hightenshu (main tower) and a gatehouse survived destruction following theMeiji Restoration, which began in 1868. However, thetenshu burned down in 1949 and a concrete replica was built in 1960.[2]
Today, all of the castle site is now a public park.
Approximately 8,000 cherry trees are planted in Matsumae Park, which is approximately 150,000 m2 around the site of Matsumae Castle. More than 200,000 people visit the Matsumae Sakura Festival every spring to see cherry blossoms.[3]
Since 1984, the "Matsumae Castle Age Festival" has been held in August.[4]
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