10 Castles in Akita worth your time
Japan Gems
Akita Prefecture has eight castles, including the Hiyama Andō Clan Fortified Residence ruins and Honjō Castle. These sites offer a look into the region's historical fortifications.
Akita has 10 castles on Japan Gems. Below are the 10 we can tell you the most about — each one written up in English from Japanese sources, with what to see and how to get there. See all castles in Akita.
01
Kubota Castle
AKITA · CASTLE 久保田城
Explore Kubota Castle, a historic hirayama-jiro and former Satake clan residence, a short walk from Akita Station.
What it is
- Former residence of the Satake clan, lords of the Kubota domain.
- Also known as Yaridome Castle and Kakune Castle.
- A hirayama-jiro (flatland-mountain castle) on Shinmei-yama.
- Designated as an Akita City scenic spot.
What to see
- Earthworks instead of stone walls.
- The Omogashira-Gobansho building, a tangible cultural property.
- A yagura-zashiki called 'Dashi-Goshōin' served as a keep substitute.
- Selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Castles.
Getting there
- 10-minute walk from Akita Station.
- Official site
- www.city.akita.lg.jp
02
Ōtoriiyama ruins
AKITA · CASTLE 大鳥井山遺跡
Explore Ōtoriiyama, a Heian-period fortified residence of the Dewa Kiyohara clan.
What it is
- Heian period archaeological site.
- Believed to be the Dewa Kiyohara clan's residence.
- Designated a National Historic Site in 2010.
What to see
- Site located on two small hills.
- Highly defensive structure with double moats and earthworks.
- Earthworks are 10 meters wide and 2 meters high.
- Moats are 8 meters wide and 3.5 meters deep.
- Remains of a four-sided hipped roof building were found.
- Artifacts from the late 10th to 12th centuries.
- Official site
- www.city.yokote.lg.jp
03
Kakunodate Castle
AKITA · CASTLE 角館城
Explore the historic site of Kakunodate Castle, once home to samurai, and the town it shaped.
What it is
- A Japanese castle, also known as Komatsuyama Castle.
- Founded when the Tozawa clan moved here in 1424.
- The Ashina clan became lords in 1602 and laid out the town.
- Abolished in 1620, its lords later lived at the mountain's foot.
What to see
- Site of the former castle.
- Samurai residences built by the Ashina and Satake clans.
- The town, known as "Little Kyoto of Michinoku".
04
Hotta-no-saku
AKITA · CASTLE 払田柵跡
Explore Japan's largest ancient castle-fortress ruin, a National Historic Site with a rich history.
What it is
- An ancient Japanese castle-fortress ruin.
- Designated a National Historic Site in 1931.
- Also known as the "Phantom Fortress."
- Largest castle-fortress ruin in the Tohoku region.
What to see
- Outer enclosure measures 1,370m east-west.
- Outer enclosure measures 780m north-south.
- Covers an area of approximately 87.8 hectares.
- Site of over 200 discovered fortress timbers.
- Official site
- common3.pref.akita.lg.jp
05
Honjō Castle
AKITA · CASTLE 本荘城
Explore Honjo Castle ruins, a former samurai residence, now a park with historical remnants.
What it is
- A former Japanese castle in Akita Prefecture.
- Built in 1613 by Tateoka Mitsushige.
- Also known as Tsurumai Castle and Ozaki Castle.
- Residence for 11 generations of the Rokugo clan.
What to see
- The castle ruins are now Honjo Park.
- See remaining earthen embankments and moats.
- Suwa Shrine was located in the Honmaru bailey.
- A two-story turret stood in the Honmaru bailey.
06
Hiyama Andō Clan Fortified Residence ruins
AKITA · CASTLE 檜山安東氏城館跡
Explore extensive ruins of a 15th-century mountain castle, once home to the powerful Hiyama Ando clan.
What it is
- Ruins of a large mountain castle.
- Also known as Kiriyama Castle or Horinochi Castle.
- Construction began around 1456 by Ando Masasue.
- Designated a national historic site in 1980 and 1986.
What to see
- Extensive castle ruins, 1500 meters east-west.
- The castle's core is at the southernmost highest point.
- Kokushoji Temple, the Ando family temple, built around 1504.
07
Akita Castle
AKITA · CASTLE 秋田城
Akita Fort Ruins museum displays artifacts from a 700s-900s exchange center, with reconstructed walls and AR app.
What it is
- Akita City History Museum of Akita Fort Ruins.
- Exhibits artifacts from Akita Fort.
- Fort was a center of exchange from 700s to mid-900s.
What to see
- Wooden tablets with official records.
- Ink-inscribed ceramics and record-keeping implements.
- Weapons and armor.
- Reconstructed earthen walls outside the museum.
- AR app on tablets shows how the site looked.
- Official site
- www.city.akita.akita.jp
08
Minato Castle
AKITA · CASTLE 湊城
Minato Castle was a significant flatland castle in Akita, with ruins offering a glimpse into its past.
What it is
- A Japanese flatland castle, built in 1436.
- Abe Yasusue built it.
- Ando Sanesue undertook a major renovation in 1599.
- Destroyed in 1604 by Satake Yoshinobu.
What to see
- Castle ruins and artifacts from excavations.
- A detected moat from 2006 excavations.
- Current Tsuchizaki Shinmeisha stands on the site.
09
Wakimoto Castle
AKITA · CASTLE 脇本城
Explore Wakimoto Castle, a large medieval mountain castle and National Historic Site.
What it is
- A medieval Japanese castle.
- Designated a National Historic Site.
- Built in 1334 by samurai of the Hojo clan.
- Residence of the Ando clan.
What to see
- A large mountain castle, 150 hectares in size.
- Castle ruins without stone walls.
Getting there
- Accessible from Wakimoto Station.
10
Yokote Castle
AKITA · CASTLE 横手城
Yokote Castle is a 1965 replica of a 16th-century mountain castle, now a historic park.
What it is
- A Japanese mountain castle, also called Asakura Castle.
- Built by Onodera Kagemichi in 1554.
- Designated a historic site by Yokote City.
- A replica castle tower was built in 1965.
What to see
- The castle ruins are maintained as Yokote Park.
- A replica castle tower stands at the site.