# Tsu Castle

- **Country:** Japan
- **Coordinates:** 34.717767, 136.507658
- **Location Text:** Tsu, Mie

Tsu Castle, also historically known as Anotsu Castle, is a flatland-style Japanese fortress located in the city of Tsu within Mie Prefecture. Originally constructed in 1558 by Hosono Fujiatsu at the strategic confluence of the Ano and Iwata rivers, the site utilized these waterways as natural moats to enhance its defenses. The castle underwent significant expansion under Oda Nobukane in the late sixteenth century, who added multiple baileys and a five-story main keep. Its most transformative architectural phase occurred in 1608 under the renowned castle architect Tōdō Takatora, who renovated the complex with new multi-story keeps and revitalized the surrounding castle town, establishing it as the seat of the powerful Tōdō clan for the duration of the Edo period.

The fortress holds considerable historical significance due to its role during the turbulent Sengoku period and the decisive Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. During this conflict, the defending Tomita clan, led by Tomita Nobutaka and his wife Yuki no Kata, successfully held the castle against a vastly superior Western army force of thirty thousand soldiers, although much of the structure was burned during the siege. Following their victory and loyalty to the Eastern forces, the Tokugawa shogunate rewarded the defenders before transferring control to the Tōdō clan, who governed the extensive Tsu Domain until the Meiji Restoration. This lineage solidified the castle's status as a political and military hub dominating the Ise and Iga provinces.

Today, the original structures of Tsu Castle no longer stand, as the site was largely demolished following the abolition of the feudal system in 1889. However, the grounds have been preserved as a Prefectural Historic Site, offering visitors a glimpse into Japan's feudal past. A reconstructed Yagura turret was completed in 1958 to restore some of the castle's former visual grandeur. While the massive stone walls and moats remain from the Edo era, the site now serves primarily as a public park and historical landmark rather than a military installation, commemorating the resilience of its defenders and the architectural legacy of Tōdō Takatora.

![Photo of Tsu Castle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/140405_Tsu_Castle_Tsu_MIe_pref_Japan01s.jpg)

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