Akashi Castle

Akashi Castle (あかしじょう) is located within Akashi Park in Akashi City, Hyōgo Prefecture. It once served as the political and residential center of the former Akashi Domain. The castle is also known by alternative names such as Kiharu Castle (喜春城 / きはるじょう / きしゅんじょう) and Kinkō Castle (錦江城 / きんこうじょう), reflecting its historical and geographical significance.

The castle site lies just north of JR Akashi Station, and the remains can be clearly seen from the station platforms, making it one of the most conveniently accessible castles in Japan. Its structure is a hybrid style of renkaku-teikaku (a mixture of linked and terraced enclosures), built upon a tongue-shaped plateau. Near the honmaru (main bailey) once stood a mound dedicated to the poet Kakinomoto no Hitomaro, and the site is also said to have witnessed fierce battles during the Kakitsu Rebellion in the Muromachi period.

Historically, Akashi has been a vital transportation hub. The San’yōdō Highway ran directly through the area, linking northward to Tanba and Tajima Provinces, and southward to Awaji Island and onward to Shikoku. Due to this strategic location, the Tokugawa shogunate regarded Akashi as a critical point for controlling western lords, second only to Himeji Castle in importance.

Today, the inner moat area of Akashi Castle has been developed into Hyōgo Prefectural Akashi Park, a popular recreation spot for locals and visitors. It is also listed among the “Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan”, and in spring, the sight of cherry blossoms in full bloom set against the backdrop of the castle’s stone walls, white turrets, and ruined tenshudai (main keep foundation) creates a breathtaking scene.