Nobeoka Castle was a historic castle that once stood in Honkoji, Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture. It is also known as Kamei Castle. Originally called Agata Castle, it was later renamed Nobeoka Castle. The castle was built by Takahashi Mototane and subsequently served as the administrative center of Agata Domain and, later, Nobeoka Domain.
Today, the castle no longer stands, but its stone walls and other remains preserve the atmosphere of its former days. The site offers visitors an opportunity to explore the history of Nobeoka and discover the role the castle played in the development of the city.
Nobeoka Castle was a hilltop castle constructed in the early Edo period. Takahashi Mototane began building it in 1601, and construction was completed in 1603. It was initially known as Agata Castle before being renamed Nobeoka Castle.
The castle served as an important political and administrative center for the Usuki District area and later became the center of government for Nobeoka Domain.
One of its most distinctive features is a massive stone wall known as “Sennin-goroshi,” meaning “a thousand-person killer.” According to legend, removing a particular stone would cause the entire wall to collapse, potentially crushing as many as a thousand enemy soldiers at once.
The site of the castle’s main keep platform, known as the tenshudai, is now home to a bell tower. The bell still rings six times a day, announcing the time to residents of Nobeoka. The sound of the bell was also immortalized in poetry by the renowned poet Wakayama Bokusui.
On April 6, 2017, Nobeoka Castle was selected as No. 195 on the list of Japan’s Continued Top 100 Castles, recognizing its historical and cultural significance.
Construction of Nobeoka Castle began in 1601 under Takahashi Mototane and was completed in 1603. The castle was built on an area of land surrounded by the Gokase River and the Ose River. At its center stood an isolated hill known as Nobeoka-yama, now called Shiroyama.
The castle’s overall layout is said to have been designed by Kanda Iki-no-kami. After its construction, the castle became the center of local administration and helped promote the development of the surrounding castle town.
Relocation from Matsuo Castle and the dedication of sacred Shinto Noh performances were among the activities associated with the early period of the castle. These developments accompanied the growth of the town around it.
Nobeoka Castle consisted of two main sections: the main castle and the Nishi-no-Maru, or Western Bailey. The Gokase River and Ose River served as natural outer moats, while inner moats and stone walls were constructed around Shiroyama to strengthen the defenses.
The main castle was divided into three principal enclosures: the Honmaru, or Main Bailey; the Ninomaru, or Second Bailey; and the Sannomaru, or Third Bailey. These areas formed the central defensive and administrative structure of the castle.
While constructing the castle, Takahashi Mototane also began developing the surrounding castle town. Samurai residences were laid out in districts such as Honkoji, Kitakoji, Sakurakoji and Tenjin-koji.
Commercial districts were also established, including Minamimachi, Nakamachi and Kitamachi. Merchants were invited from different parts of Japan, and shops bearing names such as Etchuya, Osakaya, Yamato-ya, Iwamiya and Shimaya opened in the town. These businesses contributed to the growth of the local economy.
Mototane also worked to restore shrines and temples that had been destroyed during the campaigns against the Tsuchimochi clan by the Otomo clan of Bungo. His efforts helped revive local religious practices and cultural traditions.
One example was Myosenji Temple, which was established as the family temple in memory of Mototane’s mother. It subsequently became an important center of religious life in Nobeoka.
After Takahashi Mototane, Arima Yasusumi became the lord of Nobeoka Castle. During his 38-year rule, the foundations of the castle town were firmly established.
In Arima Yasusumi’s time, Agata Castle, as Nobeoka Castle was then known, underwent extensive repairs. The reconstruction work was completed in 1655.
The project required a large workforce. Carpenters, blacksmiths and laborers from villages throughout the domain were mobilized, and the work continued on a substantial scale over several years.
A three-story turret was built during this period and later became one of the castle’s most recognizable structures. It stood as a symbol of Nobeoka Castle until it was destroyed by fire in 1683. It was never rebuilt.
Nobeoka Castle was abandoned in 1870, following the Meiji Restoration and the end of the feudal domain system.
After the castle’s abolition, the Nishi-no-Maru became private property belonging to the Naito family. In 1881, the family donated the property to Nobeoka City, and it was used as the Naito Memorial Hall.
The building was destroyed in an air raid during the Pacific War in 1945 and was never reconstructed.
In 2017, a wooden model of Nobeoka Castle was discovered in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, and subsequently donated to the city.
This discovery brought renewed attention to the history of Nobeoka Castle and provided an additional opportunity to study its former appearance.
Today, the Nobeoka Castle ruins are a popular historical attraction visited by many people. Although the original castle buildings have disappeared, the remaining stone walls and historic grounds allow visitors to imagine the castle as it once stood.
From the site of the main keep platform, visitors can enjoy panoramic views over Nobeoka City. The bell continues to ring six times a day, creating a memorable connection between the historic castle and the daily life of the modern city.
As visitors explore the grounds, they can reflect on the landscape that once surrounded the castle and imagine the views that the samurai and residents of the castle town would have experienced centuries ago.
Nobeoka Castle is an important historical landmark in Miyazaki Prefecture. From its construction by Takahashi Mototane in the early 17th century to its role as the political center of Nobeoka Domain, the castle played a central part in the region’s history throughout the Edo period.
Although the castle was abolished in 1870 and its buildings no longer remain, its stone walls, the site of the main keep platform and the timekeeping bell continue to convey its historical atmosphere. A visit to the ruins offers an opportunity to explore the history of Nobeoka and appreciate the heritage that has been passed down through generations.