History of Fukuyama CastleHistory

Transition from Mizuno to Abe Clans

Fukuyama Domain’s fifth lord, Mizuno Katsumine, died aged just two years old with no successor, forcing the Mizuno clan into extinction. Fukuyama Domain then reverted to the Edo Shogunate in 1699. Lord Matsudaira Tadamasa, a Tokugawa related feudal lord, temporarily held control, before Lord Abe Masakuni was awarded Fukuyama Domain in 1710. The Abe clan then ruled Fukuyama Domain until the Meiji Restoration of 1868. The Abe clan produced the famous late Edo period Roju or Prime Minister, Abe Masahiro, and so Fukuyama Domain played an important political role. Fukuyama Castle and the castle town prospered throughout the Edo period, and economic activity within the domain flourished as the domain's unique hansatsu currency was issued and the production and distribution of Bingo tatami mats was encouraged.

Modernization, The Path to the Present

In 1868, Japan’s feudal system collapsed and the Emperor regained control in the Meiji Restoration. An order abolishing castles was issued in 1873, and Fukuyama Castle was partially demolished, but the castle ruins were maintained as a symbol of the region. Fukuyama’s tower keep was destroyed in the air raids in 1945 and rebuilt in 1966 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the city government’s establishment. Renovations were carried out in 2022 to commemorate the castle’s 400th anniversary. Fukuyama Castle conveys the past to the present while preserved as a cultural asset with significant historical value.

During this project, various issues came to light, including the maintenance of guest rooms and bathing facilities in compliance with laws and regulations for utilizing historical buildings, issues regarding the development of experience content for guests to enjoy and the establishment of an operational structure. To solve these issues, Fukuyama City established a collaboration system with the private sector, conducted case studies and historical research, and strengthened cooperation with businesses in the Fukuyama area. Local residents and businesses were carefully briefed to gain their understanding and cooperation.

The Fukuyama Castle Stay project is more than just an overnight stay. It provides a unique opportunity to experience Fukuyama's history and culture in depth. This initiative is expected to promote local tourism, revitalize the economy, and provide an opportunity for citizens to rediscover the charms of their hometown. Fukuyama Castle has become a beloved symbol linking the region's past and future.