This castle was once the strongest castle in the Tōhoku area. It was laid siege to in 1868 & after a month the occupants surrendered. Today we can see many rebuilt structures & a large moat. The main tower, rebuilt using concrete in 1965, contains a museum.
Timeline:
1384
The castle was built, at this time though it was known as Kurokawa Castle.
1589
Date Masamune fought the Ashina clan & gained possession of the castle.
1590
Possession of the castle was relinquished to the Gamō clan at the order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
1593
The castle was expanded upon complete with a seven-story main tower and renamed Tsuruga Castle.
1589
Uesugi Kagekatsu was stationed here.
1601
Once again the Gamō clan were stationed here.
1627
The Katō clan of Iyo, modern day Ehime, were stationed here.
1639
The seven-storied, five-layered main tower that the Katō clan had transported with them from Shikoku was erected & the outer defenses expanded upon.
1643
Masayuki of the Hoshina clan was stationed here.
1868
After a month long siege against Imperial forces, the castle's lord, Matsudaira Katamori, surrendered.
