Kitsuki is uniquely constructed with two samurai residential districts situated on plateaus separated by a central merchant district, resembling a sandwich.
The castle is officially recognized as the smallest in Japan among those with a traditional tenshu (keep) structure.
The original castle was built by the Kitsuki family, who were retainers of the Otomo clan.
The site was historically known as Kizuki Castle before the characters were officially changed in the early 20th century.
The castle tower was constructed using a ferro-concrete design in 1970, typical of the postwar castle reconstruction movement in Japan.
Kitsuki Castle is a reconstructed hilltop fortress located on a cliff overlooking the Morie Bay in Oita Prefecture. Originally established in 1394 by the Kitsuki clan, the current concrete structure was rebuilt in 1970 to serve as a local history museum. It is known as the smallest castle in Japan. The interior exhibits feature samurai armor, historical documents, and artifacts detailing the Kitsuki Domain's Edo-period governance. Its strategic position at the edge of the Shiroyama Park hillside allows for panoramic views of the Iyo Sea. The surrounding town is preserved as a 'sandwich-shaped' castle town, where merchant houses line the valley between two elevated samurai residential districts.
The viewing platform at the base of the castle tower looking out over the bay.
Combine your visit to the castle with a walk through the nearby Ohara-tei and Nomi-tei samurai residences to see original period architecture.
Rent a kimono at the local rental shops in the town center to receive free admission to the castle and nearby historical sites.
Bring comfortable walking shoes, as the town is built on steep hills connecting the plateaus.
Do not expect a 17th-century original wooden structure, as the building is a modern reconstruction.
Closed briefly for year-end holidays; occasionally closed for maintenance.
Remove footwear before entering the castle interior museum areas.
