History of Edo Castle | One of Japan's Largest Castles That Supported the Tokugawa Shogunate

Edo Castle is one of the largest castles in Japan, built on the site of the present Imperial Palace. It played an important role as the center of Japanese politics from the Sengoku period to the Edo period, and even after the Meiji Restoration.

Construction by Ota Dokan

Edo Castle originated in 1457 when the warrior Ota Dokan built it as a base for controlling Musashi Province.

At that time, Edo was not a major city as it is today, but a small settlement. However, its topography, surrounded by the sea and rivers, offered excellent defense, and it was considered a militarily important location.

Subsequently, Edo Castle came under the control of the Hojo clan during the Sengoku period and became an important base in the Kanto region.

Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Major Renovation of Edo Castle

In 1590, Tokugawa Ieyasu was ordered by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to relocate to Kanto and entered Edo Castle.

Ieyasu extensively renovated Edo Castle, transforming it from a mere provincial castle into a base for national rule. Through "Tenka Fushin," which mobilized daimyo from all over the country, massive stone walls, moats, and the Honmaru, Ninomaru, and Sannomaru enclosures were developed.

When the Edo Shogunate was established in 1603, Edo Castle became the center of Japanese politics. Expansion work continued even after that, during the eras of the second shogun Tokugawa Hidetada and the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, completing one of Japan's largest castles.

The Great Tenshu (Castle Tower) and the Great Fire of Meireki

Edo Castle once boasted a magnificent tenshu, said to be one of the largest in Japan. The tenshu built during Iemitsu's era, in particular, was said to be about 60 meters tall, symbolizing the shogunate's authority.

However, in 1657, many buildings, including the tenshu, were destroyed by the Great Fire of Meireki, which engulfed the city of Edo.

The shogunate prioritized reconstruction, so the tenshu was not rebuilt. Thereafter, the "Fujimi-yagura" (Mount Fuji-viewing turret) effectively served as a substitute for the tenshu.

From Edo Castle to the Imperial Palace

In 1868, during the Meiji Restoration, the "Bloodless Surrender of Edo Castle" was realized. This was the result of negotiations between Katsu Kaishu and Saigo Takamori, a historic decision that avoided large-scale warfare.

Subsequently, Edo was renamed "Tokyo," and Edo Castle began to be used as the Imperial Palace, the residence of the Emperor.

Current Edo Castle Ruins

The current Edo Castle ruins are open to the public as the East Garden of the Imperial Palace, where visitors can see the original stone walls, gates, and turrets.

The following remains are particularly famous:

・The massive tenshudai (castle tower base) built for the reconstruction of the castle tower.
・Fujimi-yagura (Mount Fuji-viewing turret), a symbolic presence of Edo Castle.
・Ote-mon Gate, which served as the main entrance.
・Sakurada-mon Gate, known as the stage of Bakumatsu history.

Located in the heart of modern Tokyo, it is a valuable historical site where one can feel the history of the Edo period.

Summary

Edo Castle began with its construction by Ota Dokan and developed into one of Japan's largest castles under Tokugawa Ieyasu. It supported the 260 years of politics of the Edo Shogunate, and after the Meiji Restoration, it was inherited as the Imperial Palace, continuing to this day.

The history of Edo Castle, which has walked hand-in-hand with the development of Tokyo, can be said to symbolize Japanese history itself.