Kameyama Castle Ruins

Kameyama Castle Ruins (Kameyama-jo Ato) were once home to Kameyama Castle, built in 1590 (Tensho 18) by Okamoto Munenori. In the Edo period, it served as the residence of the lords of the Ise-Kameyama Domain, and because Kameyama was also the 46th post town on the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido, it played a role as an official lodging place for the shogunate as well. Due to a mix-up with Tamba-Kameyama Castle (in Kyoto Prefecture), which was ordered to dismantle its keep under the One Castle per Province policy, the keep of Kameyama Castle was mistakenly dismantled in 1632 (Kan’ei 9). Later, in 1636 (Kan’ei 13), a major renovation by Honda Toshitsugu added a Tamon Yagura turret on the keep base. Most structures were dismantled under the Meiji-era castle abolition order, and today only parts such as the keep base, Tamon Yagura, and stone walls remain. The Tamon Yagura is especially valuable as the only core castle structure in Mie Prefecture that still remains as it was in its time, making it a rare example even nationwide, and it was designated as a Historic Site of Mie Prefecture in 1953. Since 2001, the Kameyama Castle Cherry Blossom Festival has been held every year in early April. The site is about a 10-minute walk north of JR Kameyama Station.