Obi Castle

Obi Castle, located in Obi, Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture, is a hilltop castle of the concentric bailey type, built on the northern bank of the Sakatani River using the terrain and volcanic deposits that formed the so-called “Shirasu Plateau.” The castle not only served as the administrative headquarters of the Ito clan’s Obi Domain during the Edo period but was also one of the “Forty-Eight Castles of the Ito.” Obi’s geographical location was of great importance; since ancient times, it had been a strategic point in the southern part of Hyūga Province. Through the Sakatani River’s water transport, it connected to Aburatsu Port and also functioned as a distribution hub for the high-quality construction material known as “Obi cedar.”

Legend has it that Obi Castle was first built by the Tsuchimochi clan during the Nanboku-chō period, when it was also called “Obi-in.” By the late Muromachi period, the Shimazu clan, seeking to resist the Ito clan’s southward expansion, installed Niiro Tadasuke at Obi Castle, making it a Shimazu stronghold. Under Ito Sukekuni and his grandson Yoshisuke, the Ito clan launched multiple attacks on the castle, finally capturing it in 1562. However, after their defeat to the Shimazu in the Battle of Kizakibaru, the Ito’s power waned, and Obi Castle fell back into Shimazu hands in 1576. The dispossessed Ito Suketaka sought refuge with Toyotomi Hideyoshi and distinguished himself during the Kyushu Campaign. When the Shimazu submitted to Toyotomi authority, Suketaka was reinstated as lord of Obi Castle in 1588, establishing the Ito as the hereditary rulers of the Obi Domain. Thereafter, by siding with the Eastern Army at the Battle of Sekigahara, the Ito secured their family’s survival and continued to govern Obi until the Meiji Restoration and the abolition of the feudal domains. The conflict between the Ito and Shimazu over Obi Castle thus lasted for over a century.

In the Edo period, Obi Castle took full advantage of the solid geology of the Shirasu Plateau, with the construction of moats, stone walls, and multiple baileys. Despite suffering from several major earthquakes, it was repeatedly restored, and in 1693 the gōten (lord’s palace) was completed. The castle-building techniques adopted advanced methods from central and western Japan introduced during the Toyotomi regime. With the development of the castle town, Obi flourished, and its original layout and atmosphere are still preserved today. As a result, it has been designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings—the first such area in Kyushu.

In modern times, the main gate (Ōtemon) was reconstructed in 1978, and the Obi Castle Historical Museum, modeled after the former domain residence, was established to showcase the history and culture of the castle town. However, many of these reconstructions are considered reconstructions based on research rather than fully accurate restorations. Of note, the original site of the castle’s main bailey is now occupied by Obi Elementary School of Nichinan City, whose predecessor was the domain school “Shintokudō.” In 2006, Obi Castle was selected as one of the “Japan’s Top 100 Castles” (No. 96).

The castle town also preserves many historic sites, including the residence “Yoshokan” of the last domain lord Ito Sukeyori, the Shintokudō domain school, Gohyaku-zuka Shrine, and the birthplace of Komura Jutarō, a key figure in the Russo-Japanese War peace negotiations. With its streets lined with samurai residences, Obi has been dubbed the “Little Kyoto of Kyushu,” making it a major tourist attraction of Nichinan City. Furthermore, the scenic beauty and historical atmosphere of Obi Castle were used as filming locations for the NHK morning drama Wakaba.