Obara Ichiba Castle

An Old Style Castle With New Innovations

Obara Ichiba Castle is located in Obara, within the expansive borders of Toyota City in Aichi Prefecture. Ichiba was built around 1502 by the Suzuki clan, retainers to the Suzuki of Asuke Castle, to guard the border between Mikawa (Eastern Aichi Prefecture) and Mino (Gifu Pref.). The Suzuki clan lived here and governed the region from Ichiba for around 90 years, and originally may have been under the control of the Imagawa clan until the rise of Ieyasu when they joined forces with the Tokugawa. Ichiba was protected by 11 smaller satellite castles surrounding this main castle site, including Ichiba Kojo, the even older predecessor to Obara Ichiba Castle.