Nagashino Castle
The castle at the center of the famous 1575 Battle of Nagashino, where Oda Nobunaga's arquebusiers devastated the Takeda cavalry. The earthworks at the confluence of two rivers in Shinshiro, Aichi, are a national historic site.
| Japanese Name | 長篠城 |
|---|---|
| Prefecture | Aichi Prefecture (愛知県) |
| Region | Chubu (中部) |
| Castle Type | Hill Castle |
| Year Built | 1508 |
| Designation | 100名城 |
| Coordinates | 35.0, 137.5333 |
Nagashino Castle occupies a pivotal position in military history as the site of the famous 1575 Battle of Nagashino, one of Japan's most significant military engagements. Located at the confluence of two rivers in Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture, this hill castle exemplifies the strategic importance of geographical positioning in feudal warfare and remains designated as a national historic site.
Built in 1508, the castle gained prominence during the Sengoku period when it became a focal point of conflict between major military powers. The 1575 battle witnessed a decisive clash between Oda Nobunaga's innovative massed arquebusiers and the traditional cavalry tactics of the Takeda clan, marking a significant shift in Japanese military strategy and the effectiveness of early firearms in organized combat.
Today the castle survives primarily as earthwork ruins that reveal the sophisticated defensive architecture of its time. The preserved ramparts and structural remains demonstrate the engineering knowledge applied to hill castle construction, with the natural river defenses complementing the man-made fortifications. Archaeological studies and excavations have continuously yielded artifacts that illuminate daily life during the castle's active period.
Visitors to the site can walk among the historical earthworks and experience the landscape that shaped this crucial moment in Japanese military history. The combination of natural geography and preserved ruins creates a tangible connection to the sixteenth-century conflict that fundamentally altered Japan's political trajectory.
Nagashino Castle is recognized as one of Japan's top 100 castles as designated by the Japan Castle Foundation, a distinction that highlights its historical and architectural importance among the hundreds of castle sites across the country. Its design reflects the defensive priorities and construction techniques of the feudal period, with origins dating to 1508. Visitors traveling to Aichi Prefecture can explore the site alongside other regional historical attractions.
On the Ground
| Address | Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture, 441-1955, Japan |
|---|---|
| Car parking | None recorded within 1.5 km |
| Public toilets | None recorded within 1.5 km |
Car parks and toilets are counted from OpenStreetMap within 1.5 km of the castle coordinates, as recorded on 2026-08-15. They are not necessarily run by the castle, and OpenStreetMap does not record every facility — “none recorded” does not mean there are none.
Is It Original?
| Original keep still standing? | No — this castle is not among the twelve in Japan whose keep survives from the pre-modern period. Any tower here is a later reconstruction or the site is a ruin. |
|---|---|
| Classification on this site | Historic Ruins |
| Nationally designated properties recorded here | 1 |
| Recorded property names (Japanese) | 長篠城跡 |
The count of twelve surviving keeps is stated independently by the official sites of Matsue, Maruoka, Matsuyama and Bitchu Matsuyama (checked 2026-09-04). Each of the twelve carries its own source on its own page. The classification line below it is this site's own grouping, not an official designation. The designated properties below it come from the Agency for Cultural Affairs national database of designated cultural properties (国指定文化財等データベース), retrieved 2026-08-13. Official record. A missing line means no entry was found in that database — not that the property is undesignated.
Location
View larger map — © OpenStreetMap contributors
Sources and What a Blank Means
Data on this page comes from OpenStreetMap, Wikimedia Commons and the Agency for Cultural Affairs national database of designated cultural properties. Checked 2026-08-22.
A blank or missing line means we found no record in those sources — not that the castle lacks the thing. Admission fees, opening hours and access change without notice; please confirm with the official site before travelling.