Maruoka Castle

Maruoka Castle is a unique and historic castle located in the city of Sakai in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the few remaining original castles in the country that has not been destroyed or significantly reconstructed over the centuries. Maruoka Castle is also known as "Kasumigajo" or "The Mist Castle". According to legend, the castle was built by a powerful and wealthy lord who was known for his greed and cruelty towards his subjects. The lord was said to have made a deal with a group of supernatural beings, offering them the souls of his subjects in exchange for the power and wealth that he desired. The supernatural beings agreed to the deal, and the lord became incredibly wealthy and powerful. As time passed, the people of the lord's domain began to suffer under his cruel and oppressive rule. They prayed to the gods for help, and the gods decided to punish the lord for his sins. They sent a thick mist to surround the castle, making it impossible for the lord to leave or receive supplies.

As days went by, the lord and his followers began to starve and suffer. They tried to break through the mist, but it was impenetrable. In the end, the lord and his followers were said to have perished within the walls of the castle, their souls forever trapped within the mist.

The legend of Kasumigajo is often told as a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed and the importance of treating others with kindness and compassion. The mist that surrounds Maruoka Castle during the rainy season is said to be a reminder of the lord's sins and the suffering that he caused, and many visitors to the castle are said to feel a sense of awe and reverence when they witness the mist firsthand.

The history of Maruoka Castle dates back to the 16th century when it was built by the famous samurai warrior Shibata Katsuie. Shibata was a powerful daimyo or feudal lord who served under Oda Nobunaga, one of the most famous and influential samurai in Japanese history. The castle was originally built as a fortress to protect the area from enemy attacks, and it served as a key strategic location during many battles throughout the Sengoku period.

The castle was later inherited by Shibata's son, Shibata Yoshihisa, who continued to expand and develop the castle over the years. Maruoka Castle underwent significant renovations in the early 17th century under the rule of Matsudaira Tadanao, who was appointed as the new lord of the castle by the Tokugawa shogunate.

During the Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century, many castles in Japan were destroyed as a symbol of the country's modernization. However, Maruoka Castle was spared from destruction and was instead designated as a national treasure in 1922. The castle underwent several restorations and renovations over the years, including a major restoration in the 1990s that helped to preserve the castle's original appearance and historical significance.

One of the most striking features of Maruoka Castle is its unique architectural design. Unlike many other castles in Japan, which were built with stone or concrete walls, Maruoka Castle was constructed with wooden walls and a thick layer of plaster. The plaster was mixed with straw and clay, giving the castle its distinctive appearance and helping to insulate the interior from extreme temperatures.

Another interesting aspect of Maruoka Castle is its strategic location on top of a steep hill. The castle was designed to take advantage of its natural surroundings, with steep cliffs and deep valleys surrounding the castle walls. The castle's defensive design included a series of gates and barriers that could be used to slow down and confuse enemy attackers, as well as a network of secret tunnels and escape routes that allowed defenders to move around the castle undetected.