- Type
- Castle
- Built
- 1850 · 19th century
- Site origins
- 1606 per Wikidata – an earlier stronghold or first mention
- Architect
- Ichikawa Ichigaku
- Visiting
- probably – Wikidata lists it as a museum or gives tickets, opening hours or visitor numbers; check before you go
- Coordinates
- 41.4298°, 140.1084°
History
The Matsumae clan, which ruled the southern corner of Hokkaido and controlled trade with the Ainu, built a fortified residence called Fukuyama here in 1606. As more and more foreign ships appeared off Japan's coasts in the mid-19th century, the shogunate ordered a true castle to be built in its place. Work began in 1850 and was finished in 1854. In 1868, during the Boshin War, forces of the Republic of Ezo under Hijikata Toshizō captured it. The three-storey keep survived the Meiji reforms and was declared a National Treasure in 1941, but it burned down in 1949 and was rebuilt in concrete in 1961.
What to see
The rebuilt keep houses a museum with relics of the Matsumae clan and objects related to Ainu culture. The original gate of the main enclosure still stands. The castle is surrounded by Matsumae Park, with some ten thousand cherry trees of more than 250 varieties – in blossom season one of Hokkaido's most celebrated cherry-viewing spots.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q1143974
Popularity: articles about this site in 16 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).