construction date is unknown but it is said to have been built at some time during the Tenbun era (1532-1555) by Mori Motonari. In 1576, the Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, who had been exiled from Kyoto by Oda Nobunaga, defected to this castle. In order to cope with this happening, the Mori clan made an extension to the castle, placed it under the direct control of the domain, and assigned Jodai (the chief councilor) to this castle. However the Mori clan seemed to be annoyed with the Shogun’s stay. And it is said that they asked the priest Ekei of Ankokuji Temple to persuade the Shogun into leaving the domain. In 1600, when Fukushima Masanori was transferred to this castle as the castellan, further expansion was made, but later in 1615 the castle was dismantled as per the Ikkoku-ichijo (One Castle per Province) Order and Tomo Magistrate's Office was built on the site. At the present time, a history museum stands on the hill where Honmaru (the main castle) was located and the other castle area is arranged into a gateball park and graveyards.