SilkCode LibraryCastles of Japan
No. 063ChugokuTottori

Tottori Castle

鳥取城

Ruins & historic sites

Different phases of castle building occupy Mount Kyusho and its foot. The site combines a steep mountain fortress with the broader stone precincts of an Edo-period domain castle.

Stone walls rising in terraces at Tottori Castle
Stone walls rising in terraces at Tottori CastlePhoto: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · 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
Mountain fortress later expanded into a hilltop domain castle
Origins
16th-century origin; expanded in the early Edo period
Builders & patrons
The Yamana, Miyabe and Ikeda families and others
Other names
Castle on Mount Kyusho
What remains today
Walls, enclosures and keep platform; reconstructed gates

THE STORY

The story behind the walls

Originating as a Warring States mountain fortress, Tottori became the target of Hideyoshi’s starvation siege. The Ikeda expanded the lower precincts into a substantial domain castle during the Edo period. Major buildings were removed in the Meiji era, leaving walls from different phases. Recent conservation has restored parts of the main approach, including the outer Nakanogomon gate completed in 2021.

LAYOUT & ARCHITECTURE

Read the landscape and the buildings.

The layout combines summit enclosures with lower precincts spread along the mountain foot. It records a shift from high defensive positions towards government and residence below. Different wall forms and support techniques add further historical layers.

A CLOSER LOOK

Details worth a closer look.

01

Summit fortress

The summit retains the enclosure where the keep stood. Reaching it is a hike rather than a level walk, revealing the mountain’s defensive advantages.

02

Rounded support stonework

Distinctively rounded stonework stands near Tenkyumaru. Its supporting role offers an unusual contrast to the straighter faces of other walls.

03

Reconstructed main gate

Archaeology and traditional building methods informed reconstruction at Nakanogomon. Historic remains and new buildings together explain the main entrance.

THROUGH THE YEARS

A short timeline

  1. Warring States period

    The mountain fortress developed and faced Hideyoshi’s siege.

  2. 1879

    The principal castle buildings were removed.

  3. 2021

    Reconstruction of the outer Nakanogomon gate was completed.

BEFORE YOU GO

A note before you go.

Plan the lower ruins and the summit hike separately. For the upper castle, bring hiking footwear and water and follow current access guidance.

Official visitor information ↗Find it on a map ↗

Information checked: 27 September 2026

Sources & official information

Some official sources are available in Japanese only.

Keep exploring this volume

Which castle is next?