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HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > The Otemon Gate at Mito Castle
Marvel at this mammoth wooden gateway reconstructed in 2020
Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture
In 2020, the reconstruction of the Otemon gate at Mito Castle was unveiled. This is one of the largest wooden castle gates in Japan, and it’s only one hour away from Tokyo by train in the city of Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture.
The castle has been rebuilt many times over the centuries, but was largely destroyed at the start of the Meiji period (1868–1912). Little remains of the original structure save for the moats and the Yakuimon gate.
Along with the Otemon gate, the Ninomaru Sumiyagura corner tower was also part of the recent reconstruction and landscaping of the old castle grounds. There is an exhibition space about Mito Castle in the Ninomaru Sumiyagura Corner Tower. Also in this part of the former castle grounds is the Kodokan, a school for the upper classes established in 1841. The last shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, studied at this national heritage site. Historical materials about the Kodokan and the site of Mito Shokokan, which was the site of the compilation of history text Dai Nihonshi, are displayed in the Ninomaru Tenjikan hall between the Otemon gate and the Ninomaru Sumiyagura Corner Tower.
How to get there
From Tokyo Station, take the Limited Express train to Mito Station (about 1 hour 15 minutes). The Otemon gate is a 10-minute walk from the station.
2-chome, Sannomaru, Mito-shi, Ibaraki-ken
