SilkCode LibraryCastles of Japan
No. 016Kanto & KoshinetsuGunma

Minowa Castle

箕輪城

Ruins & historic sites

Built at the end of a ridge descending from Mount Haruna, Minowa is striking for its great ditches. Earthworks and reconstructed gates reveal a castle reshaped by rulers from the Nagano clan to Ii Naomasa.

Stone markers among trees at Minowa Castle
Stone markers among trees at Minowa CastlePhoto: デジタルカメラ · Public domain · Resized and converted to WebP. Cards crop the display.This photograph shows the site at the time it was taken. Check the notes and official sources for current restoration work and access.

Get to know the castle

Castle at a glance

Site & layout
Castle ruins on a low ridge
Origins
Early sixteenth century; altered into the late sixteenth century
Builders & patrons
Nagano and Takeda clans, Ii Naomasa and others
Other names
—
What remains today
Ditches, banks, masonry and enclosures; reconstructed gates and bridge

THE STORY

The story behind the walls

Minowa originated as a Nagano stronghold around the early sixteenth century. Control passed to the Takeda and later rulers, ending with Ii Naomasa. Much of today’s visible layout reflects his alterations. The castle was abandoned when he moved to Takasaki in 1598; excavation and reconstruction now clarify its form.

LAYOUT & ARCHITECTURE

Read the landscape and the buildings.

Enclosures line a low ridge and are separated by deep ditches. Natural cliffs work with artificial trenches and narrow crossings. Excavated entrance masonry and drainage structures reveal refinements from the castle’s final phase.

A CLOSER LOOK

Details worth a closer look.

01

Great dividing ditch

The great ditch south of the second enclosure divided the castle into northern and southern parts. The connecting earth bridge shows how movement was restricted.

02

Western gate of the forward enclosure

A gate from the Ii period was reconstructed from excavated foundation stones. Its scale and neighbouring ditch explain the importance of this entrance.

03

Western main-enclosure entrance

A wooden bridge and gate interpret the approach to the main enclosure. The western gate opened in 2026, helping visitors understand a once-lost entrance.

THROUGH THE YEARS

A short timeline

  1. Early 1500s

    Approximate foundation under the Nagano.

  2. 1598

    Ii Naomasa moved to Takasaki and abandoned Minowa.

  3. 2026

    The reconstructed western main-enclosure gate opened.

BEFORE YOU GO

A note before you go.

Check Takasaki City’s conservation updates for routes and reconstructed structures. Bridge restrictions were lifted in April 2026, but later changes remain possible.

Official visitor information ↗Find it on a map ↗

Information checked: 27 September 2026

Sources & official information

Some official sources are available in Japanese only.

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