Historical accounts suggest the castle was built using prefabricated sections floated down the river to deceive the enemy.
The location was strategically chosen to control the boundary between Mino and Owari provinces.
The modern replica was financed by the city to bolster local tourism and cultural education.
The castle museum is situated near the confluence of the Sai and Nagara rivers.
Excavations at the site have yielded remains of stone walls and moats dating back to the late 16th century.
The building's design is based on hypothetical renderings of the original 'ichiya-jo' style fortresses.
Sunomata-ichiyajo-Castle is a reconstructed 16th-century fortress widely known as the 'One-Night Castle' due to the legend that Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered its construction in a single night. The site functions as the Ogaki City Sunomata Historical Museum, focusing on the local history of the Saitō and Oda clans during the Sengoku period. The current structure is a replica built in 1991 to commemorate the historical fortress's strategic position along the Sai River. Visitors can explore exhibits detailing the castle's rapid construction and its role in the capture of Inabayama Castle. The grounds are famous for over 800 cherry trees, particularly the Somei Yoshino variety, which bloom along the riverside. The interior houses artifacts related to local samurai history and dioramas explaining castle architecture. It serves as a visual representation of regional military history rather than an original preserved fortification.
From the opposite bank of the Sai River to capture the castle reflected in the water with cherry blossoms in the foreground.
Visit during the early spring bloom when the surrounding riverbanks are illuminated at night.
Spend time walking the riverside park area, which provides a better perspective of the castle's scale than the interior alone.
Combine the visit with a trip to central Ogaki to see the original, well-preserved Ogaki Castle.
Do not expect an authentic medieval fortification; it is a modern educational replica.
Closed on Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday) and during the year-end/new-year period.
Remove footwear before entering the interior exhibit areas.
