Sep 15, 2015 - 1 min read

Maizuru Park & Tanabe Castle

A flurry of violets and pinks in Nishi-Maizuru

Community writer

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Relive the days of the Samurai in this beautiful garden in the castle town of Maizuru, close to Maizuru Port where cruise liners like Princess and Carnival dock on their trip around the Pacific Ocean.

The burrowed view of the distant mountains from the Maizuru Park Gardens

Like a watercolor painting, these beautiful lilies are the focus of the garden

A gentle breeze awakens your spirit in this spacious and unhurried garden

There are a number of Japanese ponds in this garden.

The landscape architects did a fantastic job in redesigning the castle ruins and the moat into several ponds and a strolling garden. These days it is a quiet and romantic place to go for a stroll.

In 1600 the daimyo Hosokawa Yusai fought a large army here prior to the Battle of Sekigahara. While parts of the castle are now in ruins, the gatehouse and boundary has been restored.

It was the year 1600. Hosokawa Fujitaka was under siege at Tanabe Castle. With just 500 defenders, they faced 15,000 attackers on the other side of the wall. Unlike the hilltop position that Fukuchiyama Castle enjoyed, the flatland position here left them exposed. It seemed hopeless, but they were saved after 50 days under the personal negotiation of the emperor himself. Today you can relive this historic battle in the free museum, while outside in the reconstructed garden and castle walls, all you can hear is the gentle breeze in the forests and the sound of birds chirping. It is a gentle place to take a stroll, slow down and hear the heartbeat of nature around you.

Known by the locals as Tanabe-jo or Bugaku-jo, the castle and Maizuru Park is one of the highlights of Nishi Maizuru. It is only one stop from Higashi Maizuru, home to a deepwater port and the International Cruise Ship Terminal. Nishi Maizuru is also the gateway to Miyazu and Amanohashidate on the KTR private railway. Why not stay at the Seikiro Ryokan and take in all the scenic and historic sights of this side of Kyoto?