# Shakujii castle

- **Country:** Japan
- **Location Text:** Nerima, Tokyo

Shakujii Castle was a Japanese fortress located along the Shakujii River in what is now Nerima, Tokyo. Originally constructed during the Kamakura period between 1185 and 1333, the structure utilized wood and earthworks to create a strategic defensive position near Sanpōji Pond. Its primary purpose was to control and defend the surrounding river valley, potentially replacing an earlier fortification from the Heian period. The site holds unique historical significance because the inheritance of its associated feudal territory is the most clearly documented of all former territories within modern-day Tokyo.

The castle served as the stronghold of the Toshima clan throughout the Muromachi period. The clan reached the height of its power while supporting Shōgun deputy Ashikaga Mochiuji during the early 15th century. However, the fortress met its end during the Kyōtoku Rebellion in 1477. After Toshima Yasutsune led forces from Shakujii to reinforce his brother at Hiratsuka Castle, the clan was defeated by the army of Ōta Dōkan, a vassal of the Uesugi clan. Following their subsequent defeat at Kozukue Castle, the Toshima fled, and Shakujii Castle was destroyed in the late 1470s.

Today, the castle no longer stands, and very little remains above ground. The site is currently located within the public Shakujii Park, where only traces of the original fortifications survive. Although recent efforts have been made to restore or investigate the location, archaeological digging has made it difficult to determine the exact size and extent of the former moats and walls. Despite the lack of visible structures, the area remains a recognized historical landmark commemorating the region's feudal past.

![Photo of Shakujii castle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Shakujii_Castle.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakujii_castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)