Kuwana Castle

Protector of the Tokaido

Kuwana was originally known as Juraku-no-Tsu from the late Heian and through the Muromachi period. It was a major seaport and city “of over 1,000 houses, temples and inns” according to the wandering poet Socho.

During the Sengoku period, Kuwana was home to a group of local lords known as the 48 Northern Families, who commanded three castles known as the Kuwana Three Castles: Hihashi (east) Castle held by Ito Takezaemon, head of the local Ito clan, Nishi (west) Castle owned by Higuchi Uchiura of the Higuchi clan, and Misaki (cape) Castle under the command of Yabe Umanosuke of the Yabe clan.