Matsusaka Castle

Matsusaka Castle, located in Tonomachi, Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture, was a Japanese castle that once stood in the former province of Ise. Today, the castle ruins have been designated a National Historic Site and are open to the public as Matsusaka Park. Built on a terraced hilltop layout (hirayamashiro style), the castle stood on slightly elevated terrain, with the Sannai River flowing along the north side, serving as a natural moat.

Originally, Matsusaka Castle served as the seat of the Matsusaka Domain in the early Edo period. After the abolition of the domain, it came under the control of the Kishu-Tokugawa clan’s jōdai (castle governor), who oversaw approximately 179,000 koku of territory in southern Ise. Entering the Meiji period, the castle structures were damaged by fire in 1877 and completely dismantled by 1881, leaving only the imposing stone walls, which remain a significant historical relic. The stonework, known for its elegant lines and intricate craftsmanship, is still well-preserved today.

The current castle site has been transformed into a green park within the city center, surrounded by the Matsusaka City Hall, the municipal hospital, and the memorial museum dedicated to Motoori Norinaga, a prominent local scholar of kokugaku (Japanese classical studies). Because writer Kajii Motojirō’s short story “A Town with a Castle” (Shiro no aru machi nite) was set in Matsusaka, a literary monument was erected on the site of the second bailey (ninomaru) in August 1974.

The third bailey (sannomaru) area was gradually developed after the Meiji era and is now home to modern facilities such as Mie Prefectural Matsusaka Technical High School, Matsusaka Municipal Tonomachi Junior High School, and the Matsusaka City Hospital, showcasing the diverse uses of the former castle grounds.

Additionally, Matsusaka Castle is the venue for important local annual festivals. The Norinaga Festival takes place in early April, and on November 3rd, the Ujisato Festival is held to commemorate the castle’s founder, Gamō Ujisato.