Tsuyama Castle

Tsuyama Castle (津山城, Tsuyama-jō) is a castle in Sange, Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. It had been residence of the government office and lord of Tsuyama Domain (Tsuyama Han) during the Edo period. It was one of Japan's three major hirayama-style castles, along with Himeji Castle and Iyo Matsuyama Castle.

Tsuyama Castle had a complex of 77 buildings. This surpassed the 61 buildings of Himeji Castle and 76 buildings of Hiroshima Castle (広島城). These buildings, however, have been lost. The grounds are now the main draw as Kakuzan Park (鶴山公園 Kakuzan Kouen) has around 5000 cherry blossom trees that attract people from all over western Japan when they bloom.

It was a residence of the Tsuyama Domain.

History

Muromachi period

Around 1441-44, the shugo daimyo (守護大名) of Mimasaka Province Yamana Norikiyo (山名教清) ordered the relatives to build a castle in Tsuru mountain (鶴山). (Tsuruyama castle/鶴山城)

But when the Yamana clan declined after the Onin War, the castle was abandoned.

Edo period