Sumoto Castle Awaji
Sumoto Castle on Awaji Island is a reconstructed castle but still has many of its original stone walls. There are superb views from the top of the hill where it is located.
Sumoto Castle, Awaji Island 洲本城
The reconstructed keep of Sumoto Castle looks down on the town of Sumoto on Awaji Island
Sumoto Castle, now only ruins, is not a well known castle, nor is it very easy to get to. It only operated as a castle for a relatively short period. However, it was an impressive mountaintop castle, and most of the stonework still remains today.
It is located on top of Mount Mikuma, 133 meters above sea level. It looks down on the town of Sumoto, the biggest town on the island of Awajishima. In its day, the castle was a key part of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's defense of his headquarters in Osaka.
Signboard displaying the extensive stonework still existing at the Sumoto Castle ruins
Signboard displaying the extensive stonework still existing at the Sumoto Castle ruins
History
The first castle constructed was in 1526. Although the English word "castle" is not really appropriate as the fortifications were built of earth and wood and would probably best be described as a fort. Many of the earliest Japanese castles would have been constructed this way.
This initial construction was undertaken by Atagi Haruoki, a retainer of the Miyoshi clan who ruled a part of Shikoku as well as part of what is now Osaka Prefecture.
In 1581 Toyotomi Hideyoshi took control of Awaji Island and put Hidehisa Sengoku in charge of the island and the castle. It is believed it was Hidehisa who began the expansion and rebuilding of Sumoto Castle and the oldest stonework was done under his bidding.
Hideyoshi removed Hidehisa in 1585 and replaced him with Hachisuka Yoshihide. It was he who greatly expanded and reinforced the castle to protect Hideyoshi's main base in Osaka. Sumoto was one of four castles that fulfilled this role, one for each of four directions surrounding Osaka.
After the defeat of Hideyoshi's clan at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, the Tokugawa gave Awaji Island to the Ikeda Clan who ruled Himeji Castle. So they abandoned Sumoto Castle and moved to Yura Castle closer to Himeji in the north of the island.
In 1616 after the fall of Osaka Castle the Tokugawa gave Awaji Island to the Hachisuka clan based in Tokushima on Shikoku.
They in turn appointed the Inada clan to govern the island and moved back to Sumoto but rather than occupy the mountaintop castle they reinforced the base of the mountain and governed from there.
Some impressive stone walls and part of the moat still exist today and it is where the Awajishima Museum is now located. The museum has a lot of displays and artifacts from the castle's history.
All the castle buildings on the mountain were dismantled in 1642 under the Edo Period edict that limited each domain to just one castle.
In 1928, the curious concrete keep was built, making it the oldest reconstructed keep in Japan. In scale or design it is not an accurate rendition of what stood there before.
Special emphasis is given to the rulers of Awaji, which was in ancient times a separate province but since the Edo Period was ruled from what is now Tokushima on Shikoku. There's plenty on Sumoto Castle, on the hill above the museum, which was the main castle on Awaji during the Edo Period.
Signboard displaying the extensive stonework still existing at the Sumoto Castle ruins
Panorama
A visit to the castle ruins can be enjoyed by those with an interest in Japanese castles, or those who seek out panoramas.
The stone fortifications extend for almost 300 meters along the ridge and give a good idea how impressive the castle must have been in its heyday.
The walking paths around the mountaintop are great for nature strolls and offer some expansive views down to town below. The view extends across Osaka Bay to Wakayama and Kansai International Airport. About 20 kilometers up the coast of Awaji you will see the gleaming, white, 100 meter tall Giant Kannon Statue.
The reconstructed keep at Sumoto Castle
Access & Information
Sumoto Castle
1272 Orodani, Sumoto-shi
Hyogo 656-0023
The castle ruins are open 24 hours a day and entry is free of charge.
It is 3 km from the Sumoto Bus Center, about 2 km from the base of the mountain. The castle is about a 40 minute walk or a 10 minute taxi ride from the Bus Center or a 10 minute walk from the Koen-mae bus stop at the base of the mountain.
Coming by car there is also another road coming up the back of the mountain from Orodani where many hotels are located.
Express buses run between Shin-Kobe or Sannomiya Station in Kobe and Tokushima city and stop at Sumoto Bus Center.
A ferry from Akashi runs regularly to the north of the island.
Awaji is easily reached from nearby Kobe, Himeji, Kyoto or Osaka.
Looking down on Sumoto and Osaka Bay from Sumoto Castle ruins on Awajishima Island
Accommodation in Awaji
Area Map
Nearby Places of Interest
Akashi Castle - built in 1619 to protect the approach to Osaka from the west.
Shimanami Kaido - 60 kilometer expressway that links the main island of Honshu with the island of Shikoku.
Maiko Park - a pleasant park with views of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and some historic residences.
World Peace Giant Kannon - once one of the largest statues in the world it is now virtually abandoned.
Yumebutai - designed by Tadao Ando includes a resort hotel, a conference center, a wedding chapel, an open air theater and a botanical museum.
Honpukuji - aka the Water Temple by Tadao Ando.
Hokudan Earthquake Memorial Park - is located at the epicenter of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake.
Awaji Puppet Theater - has daily performances of Awaji Ningyo Joruri.
Izanagi Jingu & Onokorojima Shrine - two important shrines connected with Japan's creation myth.
