Shimodate Domain

Shimodate Domain (下館藩, Shimodate-han^?) was a feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan, located in Hitachi Province (modern-day Ibaraki Prefecture), Japan. It was centered on Shimodate Castle in what is now the city of Chikusei, Ibaraki. It was ruled for much of its history by a junior branch of the Ishikawa clan.

During the Sengoku period, the area around Shimodate was controlled by the Yūki clan, through one of the closest retainers, the Mizunoya clan. The Mizunoya later became independent under Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and although under strong pressure from Ishida Mitsunari and the western daimyo, pledged allegiance to Tokugawa Ieyasu during the Battle of Sekigahara, and were reconfirmed in their 31,000 koku holdings under the Tokugawa shogunate. Mizutani Katsutaka laid out the foundations of the castle town and built a number of temples before the clan was transferred to Nariwa Domain in Bitchu Province.

The domain was then awarded to the eldest son of Tokugawa Yorifusa of Mito Domain, Matsudaira Yorishige, until his transfer to Takamatsu Domain in Sanuki Province in 1642.