jcastle.info

Ikeda Castle

Ikeda2.jpg

The castle was originally a small fortification built by Ikeda Noriyori in 1334. The Ikeda clan ruled the area from this time through to the Sengoku Period. The castle was involved in many battles and struggles for power in the area and gradually grew in size and strength with each. The castle fell to Oda Nobunaga in 1568. Nobunaga recognized the skills and intelligence of Ikeda Katsumasa, lord of the castle, and made him a retainer. Ikeda rebuilt and strengthened much of the castle learning from Nobunaga's castle techniques. Araki Murashige took over the castle in a coup in 1570 and expelled Ikeda Katsumasa from the castle. The castle was abandoned in 1580 when Araki moved to Itami Castle.

The reconstructed buildings are mock reconstructions of the type that might have been here in the late Sengoku Period.

  • Mock reconstructed main keep

  • Main keep and The MInamimon Gate

  • Reconstructed wooden wall

  • Main keep seen through the Koguchimon

  • Reconstructed walls seen from the inside

  • Wooden bridge seen from below

  • View from the top of the main keep