Yonago Castle

Yonago Castle 米子城跡
Kumecho, Yonago, Tottori Prefecture 683-0824, Japan
Yonago Castle from air
Type	Japanese castle
Site information
Condition	National Important Cultural Property
Site history
Built by	Kikkawa Hiroi

Yonago Castle was a castle in Yonago, Tottori, Japan.

In 1467, a fort was constructed by Yamana Muneyuki on Mt Iinoyama, just east of where Yonago Castle is presently located. However, the first actual castle was constructed on the site by Kikkawa Hiroi, who died before its completion. The actual site sits atop a mountain that strategically looks over Yonago's main river and its connection to the sea. When it was finally completed, the structure was a five-story castle, and it was the largest castle in the Sanin area.

Kikkawa eventually lost control of the castle, after fighting with the losing side in the battle of Battle of Sekigahara. In 1569 the castle fell to the Yoshikawa clan. The Yoshikawa undertook a major redevelopment of the castle. By 1600 the Yoshikawa clan were transferred to Iwakuni, and the Nakamura clan were given the lordship of the castle. In 1601 major upgrade works on the castle were completed, including a 5-layer tower. The Ikeda clan, and finally to a retainer of the Ikeda. The retainer's descendants, the Arao family, maintained the lordship of the castle until the Meiji period, when it was handed over to the government. It was dismantled, with some of its buildings sold off.

On the present site, castle steps, foundations and a gate are the only remnants of the castle. The extant Ohara Nagayamon Gate is present on site, previously being part of the house of a vassal to the Aori family.

Coordinates: 35°25′30″N 133°19′28″E / 35.4250°N 133.3244°E / 35.4250; 133.3244