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Inuyama Castle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Inuyama Castle (犬山城 Inuyamajō?) is located on the Kiso River in the city of Inuyama, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Inuyama is often claimed as the oldest castle in Japan, with original construction being done in 1440. That structure was heavily augmented over time, and the current donjon and towers were completed in 1537 by Oda Nobuyasu, Oda Nobunaga's uncle. Inuyama castle was unique in Japan in that it was privately owned and had national treasure status. The castle has been recently sold to the local government by the owners. According to the Engishiki, a book from the Heian Period, the Harigane Jinja, a Shinto shrine, was moved to make way for the castle.
The donjon is in Momoyama period style, and was actually moved from another castle, called Kanayama in the 1600s.
The castle was the center of power for the Naruse family, retainers of the Matsudaira clan. It was seized by the Japanese government as part of the Meiji Restoration. In 1891 the castle was damaged in an earthquake, and it was returned to the Naruse family in 1895 on they condition that they repair and maintain it. The castle was recently sold to the city of Inuyama, and is in the process of being turned over to the Aichi Prefectural government.
The castle overlooks the Kiso River, which serves as the border between Aichi and Gifu Prefecture.
