🗺️ Kishiwada Castle

Kishiwada Castle, the residence of the Okabe family and the seat of the Kishiwada Domain with a yield of 53,000 koku, is a symbol of Kishiwada City, famous for its "dashi" (festival floats). The shape of the main and secondary enclosures, which resemble the tool used for winding thread on a weaving machine called "CHIKIRI (ちきり)," led to its name "Chikiri Castle" (千亀利城), pronounced the same as the kanji. The history of the castle dates back to the Nanboku-chō period. During the time of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, then known as Hashiba Hideyoshi, the castle served as a base for attacking Kishu and has been a stage for many conflicts throughout history. The most famous legend associated with it is the "Tako Jizō" (蛸地藏) tale. It is said that when the armies of the Negoro and Saiga clans invaded, a sorcerer riding on a giant octopus, along with a swarm of octopuses, protected the castle. The current tenshu (main keep) was rebuilt in 1954 and houses a museum. Additionally, in front of the main keep is the "Hachijin no Niwa" (八陣之庭), a garden designated as a national scenic spot. Every September, the "Kishiwada Dashi Matsuri" (岸和田山車祭) features 15 dashi entering the Kishijo Shrine within the castle. The highlight of the festival is the rapid ascent from the Otemon ruins up the "Kobansaka" (小半坂) and the high-speed right-angle turn at "Yarimawari" (槍回). Furthermore, next to Kishiwada Castle is the "Kishiwada Dashi Hall," where visitors can learn about the culture and history of the dashi.

The ancient battlefield where Toyotomi Hideyoshi (羽柴秀吉) fought several times against the Kuroda and Saiga clans. It is famous for the legend of the Tako Jizo, which is protected by priests and swarms of octopuses. The main castle garden, "Hachijin no Niwa," is a designated national scenic spot. Next to Kishiwada Castle, there is also the "Kishiwada Danjiri Hall."