Sakura Castle
Introduction
History
Under the order of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Doi Toshikatsu started construction of this castle in 1610, and was completed in 1617. The castle was constructed by Doi upon the unfinished work of the Chiba clan, who had started building a castle called Kashima Castle on the same site in the earlier Sengoku Period. [1]
During the Edo Period, Sakura Castle was ruled by several powerful lords loyal to the Tokugawa rule. It was considered a strategically important location for protecting the Eastern flank of Edo.[2]
The castle was a large and expansive castle, howere was noted for having no stone walls. The defensive lines were reinforced by deep dry moats and earthen embankments to mark off the baileys. The main keep was a yagura relocated from Edo Castle.[3] The park was used as an army barracks during WWII.
Current site
There is little left of the original castle, excpet for the moats, earthen walls, and some stone stairs.The grounds of the castle have a large museum of national history.[4]