Shibata Castle

Shibata Castle (新発田城) is a castle in Shibata, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It was the government office of Shibata Clan (Shibata Han) during the Edo period. Construction of Shibata Castle was started in 1598 by the first clan leader, Mizoguchi Hidekatsu, and was completed in 1654. After that, Shibata‟s politics, economy and culture flourished. The Omote mon gate (表門) and Sumi yagura (隅櫓) turret　remain from the old days and are designated as important national properties. The wall outside the turret, called Namako kabe (海鼠壁), is waterproof. The stone wall is made of regularly piled stones in the manner of Kirikomihagi. In recent years, requests to restore Shibata castle to its original state increased. As a result, the Tatsumi yagura (辰巳櫓) turret and Sangai yagura (三階櫓) turret were restored in 2004. Only one of the turrets is open to the public.