Fukuyama Castle


Fukuyama Castle, sometimes called Hisamatsu Castle or Iyō Castle was the castle of the Bingo-Fukuyama Han during the Edo period of Japanese history.
The castle is located in Fukuyama Park in Fukuyama, Hiroshima near Fukuyama Station.

Overview

The castle was built on a hill on the Fukuyama plain and it was the capital of Bingo Fukuyama Han. Construction was started in 1619 during the Genna era, and was completed in 1622. The castle was erected by Mizuno Katsunari, one of the first Tokugawa hereditary vassals, on order by the Tokugawa shōgun. The castle stood seven stories tall, and was surrounded by double moats which provided an inlet to the Seto Inland Sea. The Mizuno clan maintained control over the castle from its construction until 1700.
Fukuyama Castle was one of the tenshu that survived the Meiji Restoration, however it suffered extensive damage from Allied attacks in World War II; most buildings of the castle were destroyed. Most of the dry stone was later removed, and Fukuyama Station was built very near where the castle stood. The main tower was rebuilt with concrete in 1966.

Literature