Minowa Castle

Minowa Castle, located in Misato Town, Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, is a hirayamajiro (hilltop-flatland castle) built on a river terrace. It is designated as a National Historic Site of Japan and is also listed among the “Top 100 Japanese Castles.”

The castle was constructed on natural elevated terrain shaped by the Haruna Shirakawa River, utilizing a terraced (teikakushiki) layout with multiple kuruwa (enclosed baileys) as its core structure. The west side faces the Haruna Shirakawa, while the south borders Lake Haruna, both acting as natural moats that significantly enhanced the castle’s defenses. The site stretches approximately 500 meters east to west and 1,100 meters north to south, covering a vast area of about 47 hectares, making it a large-scale fortress.

Although most original buildings no longer remain, key defensive features such as stone walls, earthen embankments, and dry moats are still visible. Several castle gates and umadashi (outer defensive enclosures) have been restored, offering visitors a glimpse into the scale and defensive strategies of the original castle.