Kagoshima Castle

Kagoshima Castle 鹿児島城
Kagoshima, Kagoshima
Type	Japanese castle
Site information
Controlled by	Satsuma Domain (1601–1874), Japan (1874–present)
Open to the public	yes
Site history
Built	1601
Built by	Shimazu Iehisa
Garrison information
Occupants	Daimyo of Satsuma

Kagoshima Castle (鹿児島城, kagoshima jō), also known as Tsurumaru Castle, is a Japanese castle in Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

History

This castle was constructed by Shimazu Iehisa in 1601. In 1600 Shimazu Yoshihiro, the father of Iehisa, was defeated at the Battle of Sekigahara as a daimyo of the western alliance, by the eastern alliance led by Tokugawa Ieyasu. This castle was built after the defeat and in the severe political tension with Ieyasu.

This castle is notable for the small scale and fairly poor quality as a main castle of one of the richest daimyo in Japan. It is said that Shimazu was afraid of giving the Tokugawa an excuse to attack Shimazu territory by making too large a castle.

Access

• Kagoshima Station of Kagoshima Main Line