04.25thu.

The ruins of Mito Caste

Mito castle was well-known place since it was the biggest one which is covered by earth mound in Japan.It was located between the river Naka in the North and the lake Semba in the South.
The castle was originally built by the castellan, Sukemoto Baba in around at the Heian and the beginning of Kamakura period.Since then, the castle was very much popular for the local people in Mito until it was burned down in 1945 due to the War damage.
The current beautiful scenery including, Yakui-mon, Hanko-Kodokan, a moat and mound around those area, they will remind you the natural surroundings of the Mito castle at that time how they used to be.
At the ruins of Mito-Shokokan, there is a Ninomaru gallery with its monument.Mitsukuni Tokugawa, the second feudal lord of Mito domain edited Dai-Nihomshi which is well known as a part of Mito-gaku.At the Ninomaru gallery, you are able to see the documents regarding the Mito castle and the excavated artifact from the ruins of the castle.

Address	Around San-no-maru area, Mito-city
Directions	•By Train or Bus: It takes about 10min on foot from the North exit of JR Mito Station. •By Car: It takes about 30min from Mito IC / Jyoban expressway. or takes about 15min. from Mito Minami IC / Kitakanto expressway.
Open
Price	Admission fees at Nino-maru exhibition center: Free of charge.
Closed	Close on December 29 – January 3 / For more details, please contact Mito-City-Hall.
Contact	Tel: 029 224 1111 at Mito-City-Hall. * Collecting series of stamps for Japan great castles are available at Kodokan.
Attention	* Please be reminded that Yakui-mon is actually located within Mito-Daiichi-Highschool’s area. * Due to the rebuilt construction of Mito-castle Oote-mon, the cars or bicycles are Not allowed to pass within the specific area. * For more details, please access Mito-City-Hall web site (history and culture division). http://www.city.mito.lg.jp/001373/001374/0/rekisi/index.html