Shōryūji Castle

Shōryūji Castle 勝龍寺城
Nagaokakyō, Kyoto, Japan
Shōryūji Castle Aerial photograph of the Shōryūji Castle in 2025
Site information
Type	hilltop
Owner	City of Nagaokakyō, Kyoto
Condition	Imitation stone walls and turrets reconstructed
Location
Shōryūji Castle 勝龍寺城 Shōryūji Castle 勝龍寺城
Coordinates	34°55′5.21″N 135°42′2.49″E
Site history
Built	19 September, 1339
Built by	Hosokawa Yoriharu
In use	1339 - 1649
Materials	Dry moats, earthwork, earthen bridges, stone walls, wood
Demolished	1649
Garrison information
Occupants	Yokoyama clan, Akechi Mitsuhide Hosokawa clan, Nagai clan (Nagai Clan, etc.

Shōryūji Castle (勝龍寺城, Shōryūji-jō) is a castle in Nagaokakyō, Kyoto, Japan.

History

This castle was constructed in 1339 by Hosokawa Yoriharu, a major samurai commander under Ashikaga Takauji, the founder of the Ashikaga shogunate.

The area around the castle is a strategic foothold to defend Kyoto, the capital of Japan at that time, from western threats. During the Ōnin War, this castle was used as a castle of the western alliance and became occupied by Iwanari Tomomichi, a daimyō of the Miyoshi clan, during the Sengoku period. The castle fell to Oda Nobunaga in 1568, and was given to Hosokawa Fujitaka, who occupied it until 1579.

At the battle of Yamazaki between Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Akechi Mitsuhide, following Mitsuhide's killing of Nobunaga, this castle's garrison collapsed, forcing Mitsuhide to flee to his death.

Access

• Nagaokakyo Station of Tokaido Main Line

Gallery

• 
  The yagura and a moat.
• 
  fence and moat
• 
  Replica turret and remains of tiger's mouth
• 
  Parking lot at Shoryuji Castle Park
• 
  Well ruins
• 
  The estimated castle grounds of Shoryuji Castle
• 
  Stone marker at Shoryuji Castle Park
• 
  Excavated artifacts from Shoryuji Castle
• 
  Excavated coins from Shoryuji Castle
• 
  Excavated artifacts from Shoryuji Castle
• 
  Earthen wall of Shōryūji Castle

References

• [1] Official Homepage of Nagaoka Tourist Bureau