Kanō Castle Ruins

Gifu, Japan, Japan

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Kanō Castle Ruins are the remains of an early Edo-period castle located in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture.

The castle was rebuilt in 1602–1603 by Okudaira Nobumasa under the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu, shortly after the Battle of Sekigahara, and served as the administrative center of the Kanō Domain. Built on flat land with double moats and strong defensive earthworks, the castle controlled important routes linking Mino Province with the Kansai region.

Materials from the older Gifu Castle were reused in its construction, making it one of the notable castles established during the early Tokugawa era. The castle was dismantled after the Meiji Restoration, and today only parts of the stone walls, earthworks, and the foundation of the main enclosure remain. Recognized as a National Historic Site, the ruins offer visitors a glimpse into Japan’s feudal past and the development of Tokugawa administration.