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Castle · Ibaraki · Kanto

Mito Castle Ruins

水戸城

Castle ruins in Mito, seat of the Tokugawa clan's Mito branch in the Edo period, with moats, gates and the adjacent Kodokan school still standing.

Yakui gate of Mito Castle in Mito
Yakui gate of Mito Castle in Mito © Miyuki Meinaka, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opening hours
Every day Always open
Admission
Everyone Free
Access
2-9, Sannomaru, Mito City, Ibaraki
〒 310-0011
How to get there
Nearest stationMito Station
水戸
Joban Line · Oarai Kashima Line · Suigun Line8 min walk from the station
Nearest bus stop大手門下3 min walk from the bus stop

Mito Castle, built in the early 13th century, is now only a collection of ruins, including moats, a gate, and the Kodokan school located in front of it. Many of the castle's buildings were destroyed in the late 18th century, and it was decommissioned during the Meiji period. The castle was originally built by Baba Sukemoto and called Baba Castle. The present name was given in the early 15th century, after it was taken by the Edo clan. During the Edo period, the Mito branch of the Tokugawa clan, which was founded by Yorifusa Tokugawa, the 11th son of Ieyasu Tokugawa who was the first Tokugawa shogun, held the castle. This demonstrates Mito's significant role during the Edo Era.

Getting There

Map: Getting to Mito Castle Ruins. Legend: Joban Line; Suigun Line; Oarai Kashima Line. Labelled stations: Chiba, Toride, Shimodate, Kashima-Jingu, Mito.

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Nearby

Places nearby

Historic Site

Kodokan

The largest han school during the Bakumatsu period, established in 1841 by Tokugawa Nariaki with a wide-ranging curriculum, now a Special Historic Site.

Mito · Ibaraki
Park & Garden

Kairakuen

One of Japan's Three Great Gardens spanning 300 hectares, built in 1842 and renowned for its plum trees and cherry blossoms that bloom seasonally.

Mito · Ibaraki
Museum

Ibaraki Prefectural Museum of History

A museum in Mito tracing Ibaraki's history through artifacts and documents from the Edo period, featuring preserved farm buildings and Meiji-era architecture.

Mito · Ibaraki
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