Ōgaki Castle — Attraction in Ogaki

A Charming Historical Gem with Watery Delights

Ogaki Castle (大垣城) offers a delightful experience for history enthusiasts and casual visitors alike. Although it’s a reconstruction (the original was destroyed in 1945 ), the castle has been thoughtfully rebuilt and maintains a strong sense of historical significance. It served as a key base for Ishida Mitsunari during the pivotal 1600 Battle of Sekigahara , and the museum inside does a great job of showcasing this history through armor displays, weapons, and a detailed diorama of the battle .

👍 Highlights:

Proximity to Ogaki Station: The castle is incredibly convenient to reach. It’s just a 7-10 minute walk from JR Ogaki Station , making it an easy and accessible stop for travelers. The route from the station is pleasant, with a few souvenir shops and local snack vendors along the way . Ogaki Park & Castle Grounds: The castle is situated within a serene public park . This green space is perfect for a relaxing stroll, featuring well-maintained gardens, open lawns, and a playground area that families will appreciate. The park is also home to approximately 200 cherry trees of 30 varieties, making it a spectacular hanami (cherry blossom viewing) spot in spring when the castle is beautifully illuminated at night . The City of Water & Fountains: Ogaki is famously known as the "City of Water" . The castle itself was historically nicknamed the "Water Castle" due to its extensive network of moats connected to the Suimon River . A short walk from the castle grounds, you can find natural spring water fountains where you can drink fresh, cold groundwater that gushes up from below. One notable spot is near the Suimon River, and another is at the Kagano Hachiman Shrine, where a natural spring provides delicious water rated among Japan's best . This unique feature makes the city feel refreshing and alive.

👎 Minor Drawbacks:

· The castle keep is modest in size compared to more famous Japanese castles like Osaka or Himeji. Some visitors might find the interior museum a bit small, though it's packed with interesting artifacts . · The castle is closed on Tuesdays (or the following day if Tuesday is a national holiday) , so you’ll need to plan your visit accordingly.

💎 Final Thoughts:

Ogaki Castle is a charming and historically significant site that’s well worth a visit, especially when combined with exploring the water-rich culture of its surrounding city. The easy access from the train station, the lovely park setting, and the unique experience of drinking from natural urban fountains create a very enjoyable half-day trip. It’s a solid 4-star destination that offers a rewarding glimpse into Japan's feudal past and a refreshing taste of its natural present.

Tips: For a unique local treat, try mizumanju, a jelly-like sweet chilled in the cold spring water, a tradition dating back over 140 years . Consider visiting on a Wednesday to Friday to also see the nearby Ogaki Folk Museum or other...

Out of all the Castle's I visited in Japan, Ōgaki Castle was my favourite one.

In the 16th century, Ogaki Castle (Ogaki-jo) was an already known existing fortress, yet truly became a dominant and strategic castle when it was built more upon in 1585 at the command of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the ruler of Japan at that time. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, recognised the importance of the site and had the donjon built.

In 1936, the castle's structure was made of a four-tiered, four-storied donjon with many turrets and castle gates, however the structure was later destroyed by fire in the air raids of 1945 during WWII. The castle was then rebuilt to how it stands today in 1959.

Today the castle is just as beautiful with lush garden grounds to walk around and during Cherry Blossom season the trees around the statue dominate the castle providing a truly fascinating view. Inside the castle hosts a museum on the first to third floors, which exhibits the history of the castle and it's people, as well as a the fourth floor being an observation level. A quiet and scenic route around the castle grounds provide plenty of photo opportunities and allows you to take a moment to step back in time and imagine the people who walked before you in this castle.

Throughout the grounds there are key landmarks with the history of the battles fought yet they are in Japanese so I would recommend visiting the gift shop as you enter for a leaflet that is available in English. The entry fee is 100 yen and the castle is closed...

宮川安定が築いたともいわれているが、築城年代、築城者は特定できていない。宮川氏築城当時は、牛屋川を外堀の代わりに利用し、本丸と二ノ丸のみであったという。戦国時代になると氏家直元が大規模な改修をして本格的な城郭としての整備された。伊藤祐盛が4重4階の天守閣を加え、石川氏によって総堀が加えられ、久松松平氏により天守が改修されている。1649年（慶安2年）、 戸田氏鉄の代の改築によって明治に至る姿となった。

中世 1500年（明応9年）に竹腰尚綱によって揖斐川東河岸にあった牛屋に築かれたともいわれ、1535年（天文4年） に宮川安定が大尻に築いたともいわれる。この当時は、牛屋城と呼ばれていたとされている。牛屋川を外堀の代わりに利用し、本丸と二ノ丸のみであった。

戦国時代には大垣城は戦略上重要な地点であったため争奪戦が繰り返され、織田氏、斎藤氏、織田氏と支配権が移り変わった。1544年（天文13年）に織田信秀の攻撃により落城し、織田播磨守が5年間城主を務めた。その後、1549年（天文18年）、斎藤氏に攻め落とされて配下の竹越尚光が城主となる。

1559年（永禄2年） に桑原直元が城主となり、1563年（永禄6年）に城の大規模な拡張を行い、堀や土塁に手を加え、総囲いなどが整備された。

近世 賤ヶ岳の戦いの後、この地域の支配権を獲得した羽柴秀吉により、1583年（天正11年）に池田恒興が城主とされた。所領は15万石とされる。池田氏以後、大垣城は近世城郭としての整備が進んだ。翌1584年（天正12年）に小牧・長久手の戦いで恒興が戦死すると息子の輝政が継いだが、翌年の1585年（天正13年）には輝政は岐阜城主に転じた。

代わって、1585年（天正13年）には秀吉の甥・豊臣秀次の家老の1人に任命された一柳直末が、大垣城に配されて3万石を領した。

大垣城は1586年（天正13年）11月29日の天正地震の被害をうけて全壊焼失した。

1588年（天正16年）に一柳直末によって、若しくは...