Fujimi Yagura Ato (Former Watchtower Site of Kawagoe Castle)
富士見櫓跡
Kawagoe Castle never had a keep; instead, the three-story Fujimi Yagura (Fuji-View Turret), built on the castle's highest ground, served in its place. Although the building itself no longer survives, the site remains preserved as a mounded, earthwork-like rise on the south side of Saitama Prefectural Kawagoe High School, and visitors are free to walk up and imagine the turret as it once stood. Near the summit stand small shrines — Ontake Jinja, Sengen Jinja, and Fujimi Inari — making the spot a popular destination for history walks tracing the remains of Kawagoe Castle. According to a late-Edo-period survey, the turret measured about 15 meters long and 14 meters wide, and from the highest point in the castle town it served as a watchtower. As its name suggests, it is said to have once offered a view all the way to Mount Fuji, though trees and surrounding buildings now block that vista. Admission is free with no time restrictions, and together with the Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten Palace and the Kawagoe City Museum, it's a worthwhile stop for experiencing the history of the old castle town beyond the kurazukuri streetscape.
Highlights
The site is a natural-looking mound you can climb via a stepped path to the top. At the summit, small shrines to Ontake Jinja and Sengen Jinja stand side by side, giving the spot a distinctive atmosphere where castle defense and religious faith intertwine. Though the turret itself is gone, the height and spread of the earthworks let you picture the scale of the original structure.
History
Kawagoe Castle is known as a castle without a central keep; it's believed that the three-story Fujimi Yagura, built at the southwest corner as the highest point in the castle, played the role of a keep alongside the Tora Yagura at the northeast corner and the Hishi Yagura on the north side of the Honmaru. According to a survey from 1866 (the second year of Keio, late Edo period), the turret measured about 15 meters long and 14 meters wide. It was demolished when the castle was decommissioned in the Meiji era, leaving only the site behind today.
Access Tips
The site is a bit of a walk from Kawagoe or Hon-Kawagoe Station, so taking a local bus is convenient. Take the Tobu Bus Kawagoe Route 06 and get off at "Shiyakusho-mae" (about an 8-minute walk), or take the Koedo Meisho Meguri sightseeing bus from Kawagoe Station's east exit and get off at "Shiminkaikan-mae" (about a 5-minute walk). It's within walking distance of the Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten Palace and the Kawagoe City Museum and Art Museum.
Visit Tips
- Suggested duration
- About 15-20 minutes
- Crowd levels
- Rarely crowded with tourists, so you can usually visit at a relaxed pace
- Best time to visit
- Best paired with a visit to the Honmaru Goten Palace and City Museum, ideally in the cool morning hours
| Address | 2-chome, Kuruwamachi, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture |
|---|---|
| Hours | Open access for viewing (no time restrictions) |
| Admission | Free |
| Official Website | Visit official website |
Access
- 8 min walk from Kawagoe Station / Hon-Kawagoe Station (Tobu Bus Kawagoe Route 06, get off at "Shiyakusho-mae" (about an 8-minute walk), or the Koedo Meisho Meguri sightseeing bus, get off at "Shiminkaikan-mae" (about a 5-minute walk) — bus recommended)