Images: Daniel O'Grady
柳河藩
Yanagawa Domain
田中氏
1601 - 1620
Tanaka Clan
325,000 Koku
立花氏
1620 - 1871
Tachibana Clan
109,000 Koku
柳河城
Yanagawa Castle is classified as a flatland castle, and is located in Fukuoka Prefecture. During the pre-modern age, it found itself within the borders of Chikugo Province. It is associated with the Tanaka, Tachibana clans. Dates in use: 1504 - 1872.
Precious few signs of Yanagawa's castle remain. A section of stonework and an old photograph of the main tower are the only tangible items from the inner enclosure of the castle. Where the castle once stood now stands a Junior High School. The 5-story, 35-metre main tower built by the Tanaka clan stood atop 8-metre stone base.
My visit to Yanagawa was back in 2002 when digital camera technology wasn't quite what it is today. So, apologies for the quality of the images. Aside from the obvious lack of castle-related relics, there are still several points of interest. The major one being Ohana, which is a museum dedicated to the historical items of the Tachibana clan. Also, there is the canal trip through the former castle's moats.
Timeline
1558 | Constructed by Kamachi Akimori, completed in 1569 or 1570. |
1581 | The Nabeshima clan took control of the castle. |
1584 | The Nabeshima clan moved their HQ to Saga castle and were replaced with the Ryuzoji clan. |
1587 | Tachibana Muneshige was awarded the fief of Chikugo. |
1600 | The siege of Yanagawa. Tachibana Muneshige had sided himself against the Tokugawa & following the battle of Sekigahara, he found the Katō & the Kuroda clan's armies on his doorstep. He promptly switched allegiances but had to sit out further hostilities with other non-Tokugawa aligned clans. The Tanaka clan were awarded the domain. The castle was then rebuilt to modern standards. |
1621 | Tachibana Muneshige assumed control of the domain after the Tanaka clan died without an heir. |
1872 | On the 18th of January the castle burnt down. |
1873 | The castle was officially decommissioned. |
1874 | The stonework was dismantled and re-used. |
Historical recognition
Site | National Historic Site |