Mito Castle Ruins
水戸城跡
The castle ruins of the Mito Tokugawa family, one of the three branch houses of the Tokugawa shogunate. Earthen ramparts and dry moats are the main features. The Ote Gate and Ni-no-maru corner turret have been reconstructed, and the Yakui Gate is an original surviving structure.
Mito Castle was the seat of the Mito Tokugawa family, one of the Three Branch Houses of the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo period. It has no stone walls. Instead, it is known for its massive earthen ramparts and dry moats, making it a representative example of Japanese earthwork castles. Most of the buildings were destroyed by fire during wartime. The only surviving original structure is the Yakui Gate, which stands within Mito First High School. In 2020, the Ote Gate was reconstructed based on old drawings, and in 2021 the Ni-no-maru corner turret was rebuilt. The 'Ni-no-maru Walking Path' was also restored, and along it you can see remnants of walls and whitewashed sections on school grounds, including Mito Second Junior High School. Admission to the ruins is free, and they can be explored along with the Kodokan. It is about 10 minutes' walk from the north exit of JR Mito Station.
Opening hours
Open all day (limited interior hours at the corner turret)
Nearby sights
- Kōdōkan (Mito)
- Mito Tōshō-gū
- Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki
- Art Tower Mito
- Lake Senba
- Kairaku-en
- Tokiwa Shrine
- Mito Hachiman-gū