Shiga

Minakuchi Castle

A double take of Nijo Castle on the Tokaido Road

Bonson Lam Jun 11, 2015 - 1 min read

Details of the wooden bridge from the Castle.

Imagine the work that thousands of laborers did in constructing this beautiful castle on the Tokaido road between Kyoto and Tokyo.

Minakuchi Castle is a short drive from the Koka (or Koga) Ninja Village and the Minaguchi Seiyu Shopping Center.

Modeled on Nijo Castle in Kyoto, it is also associated with Kobori Masakazu, who taught the Enshu-ryu style of tea ceremony to Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third Tokugawa Shogun.

A quiet moment with the castle reflected on the water.

This looks remarkably like the moat at Nijo Castle in Kyoto.

If you are visiting here on April 19 and 20, keep your eyes out for the local Hikiyama festival, with floats and evening lanterns much like the Gion Matsuri.

The bridge to the castle is a beautiful spot to reflect and take photos.

The 50th road station between Tokyo and Kyoto, Minakuchi Castle (sometimes called Mizuguchi or Hekisui) was built in 1634. While it is a shadow of its former self, you can still imagine the work of the thousands of labourers and carpenters in constructing this beautiful yet simple castle and moat on the old Tokaido Highway. Modelled on Nijo Castle in Kyoto, Minakuchi is also associated with Kobori Masakazu, who taught the Enshu-ryu style of tea ceremony to Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third Tokugawa Shogun. If you are visiting Minakuchi Shrine on April 19 and 20, keep your eyes out for the local Hikiyama festival, with floats and evening lanterns much like the Gion Matsuri.

Minakuchi Castle is a five-minute walk northeast of Minaguchijonan Station and is a short drive from the Koka (or Koga) Ninja Village and the Minakuchi Seiyu Shopping Center which is open 24 hours a day.

Bonson Lam @bonson.lam

I knew my future was destined to be with Japan the moment I flew from Sydney to experience the atmospheric laneways of Kyoto last century. I am humbled to have met many distinguished people during this time, especially the national living treasures of Japan, such as the doll maker to the Imperia...