Uozu Castle-Tragic Warring States Period Castle | Toyama

What kind of castle is “Uozu Castle”? A castle that lasted from the Nanbokucho Period to the Edo Period

Uozu Castle, also known as Ozu Castle or Odo Castle, was a castle built on a flatland in Uozu City, Toyama Prefecture.

It is said that the castle was built by Magohachi Shiina Nyudo in 1335 (Kenmu 2) as a branch castle of Matsukura Castle (located in Uozu City, Toyama Prefecture), which was the Shiina clan’s headquarters.
In the Muromachi period (1336-1573), Uozu Castle became a castle of the Hatakeyama clan (protector of Etchu), and in the Sengoku period (1568-1568), it became a castle of the Uesugi clan (Nagao clan) via the Hatakeyama clan, each time becoming an important base in Echigoku (Toyama Prefecture).

Later, during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1600), the castle belonged to the Maeda clan, but in the early Edo period (1603-1867), Uozu Castle was abandoned due to the “One Castle per Province” ordinance (a law enacted by the Edo Shogunate that one castle per country).
Today, the main castle is the site of Uozu Omachi Elementary School and the second castle is the site of Uozu Summary Court, and a stone monument stands on the former site of the main castle.

Battle of Uozu Castle! The battle of Uesugi defenders who could have avoided annihilation if they had endured one more day

There is a famous battle that takes place at Uozu Castle. It is the “Battle of Uozu Castle.
The Battle of Uozu Castle was a series of battles between the Uesugi and Oda forces over Uozu Castle over a period of three months from March 11 to June 3, 1582.

In 1582, Oda Nobunaga, who had taken control of the Kinai region (present-day Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara), sent troops to various parts of Japan and was on his way to unify the country.
In March of the same year, Oda Nobunaga destroyed the Takeda clan in Kai Province (Yamanashi Prefecture), and on the 11th of the same month, he ordered his vassals Shibata Katsuie and Maeda Toshiie to surround Uesugi’s Uozu Castle.

At this time, the Uesugi forces numbered less than 4,000 against the 40,000 Oda forces.
Although the Uesugi forces were overwhelmingly outnumbered, 13 defenders of Uozu Castle, including Nakajo Kageyasu, fought hard and even asked for help from Uesugi Keikatsu at Kasuga-yama Castle to defend the castle for three months.

However, the Oda army, which had destroyed the Takeda clan, tried to march from Shinano (Nagano Prefecture) and Ueno (Gunma Prefecture) to Kasuga-yama Castle, the Uesugi clan’s stronghold, so Uesugi Kagakatsu retreated, abandoning Uozu Castle.
It is said that Uesugi Kagakatsu sent a letter to Uozu Castle stating that he could conclude a peace agreement and vacate the castle.

Even so, the generals of Uozu Castle did not surrender, but fought to the last, and on June 3, 1582, the 13 defenders committed suicide and the castle fell.
Although Uozu Castle fell on June 3, a major incident had occurred the day before.

You are all familiar with the Honnoji Incident.
It is said that the Honnoji Incident was reported to the Oda forces that had lost Uozu Castle on June 4, the following day.
If they had endured one more day, the Uesugi soldiers at Uozu Castle might not have been wiped out.

As we have described, “Uozu Castle” is a castle that has no small connection with the “Honnoji Incident,” a turning point in Japanese history.

Access to Uozu Castle

1-10-39, Honmachi 1-chome, Uozu-shi, Toyama 937-0866

-7 minutes drive from Uozu Station on the Aino-fu Toyama Railway
-5 minutes drive from Uozu IC

Parking around Uozu Castle

Uozu Castle Official Website

・Official site：Toyama Sightseeing Navi

The current “Uozu Castle” is located on the grounds of Omachi Elementary School, but we would like you to know that many people died here in the past.
If you wish to see the ruins of the castle, please call the elementary school to obtain permission

Recommended around Uozu Castle