Get to know the castle
Castle at a glance
- Site & layout
- Early-modern castle on a low hill
- Origins
- Completed 1622; present keep reconstructed 1966
- Builders & patrons
- Mizuno Katsunari
- Other names
- —
- What remains today
- Fushimi Turret, Sujigane Gate and walls survive; the keep is reconstructed
THE STORY
The story behind the walls
Mizuno Katsunari completed the castle in 1622 as his base in Bingo. Its complex incorporated buildings brought from Fushimi Castle. The original keep burned in the 1945 air raid, while Fushimi Turret and Sujigane Gate survived. A new keep was built in 1966 and became a museum. Work in 2022 recreated its iron-clad north face, making this unusual feature visible again.
LAYOUT & ARCHITECTURE
Read the landscape and the buildings.
The castle places its keep and turrets above the walls of the main enclosure, with gates controlling access. Iron plating on the keep’s north face illustrates how defences differed by direction. The surviving gate and turret help explain the reconstructed keep’s place in the layout.
A CLOSER LOOK
Details worth a closer look.
Iron-clad north wall
Work completed in 2022 recreated the iron plating on the keep’s north side. Compare it with the white southern face to see the striking difference.
Fushimi Turret
Documents and inscriptions identify this surviving turret as a building moved from Fushimi Castle. Its early-Edo fabric offers a useful comparison with the modern keep.
Sujigane Gate
The surviving main gate marks the entrance to the castle’s central enclosure. Observe the route through the gate together with the surrounding walls.
THROUGH THE YEARS
A short timeline
- 1622
Mizuno Katsunari completes Fukuyama Castle.
- 1945
The original keep burns in an air raid.
- 1966
The present keep is reconstructed.
- 2022
The iron-clad north face is recreated.
BEFORE YOU GO
A note before you go.
Check the museum calendar before visiting, as exhibition changes can cause closures.
Information checked: 27 September 2026
Sources & official information
Some official sources are available in Japanese only.
