Sakura Castle fell to
Honda Tadakatsu and Sakai Ietsugu of the Tokugawa army during the
Siege of Odawara (1590). Chiba Shigetane, daimyō of the Chiba clan, surrendered the castle to the besieging forces on the condition that his clan would not be abolished. Under the orders of his Lord,
Tokugawa Ieyasu, Doi Toshikatsu started construction of this castle in 1610. It was completed in 1617. It was based on the foundations and unfinished work of the Chiba clan, who had started building Kashima Castle on the same site, in the earlier
Sengoku period. During the
Edo era, it was ruled by powerful lords, all loyal to the Tokugawa rule. Sakura Castle was considered a location of strategic importance, in particular as it protected the eastern flank of Edo. At its peak it was a large complex; however, it was noted for having no stone walls. The defensive lines were reinforced by deep, dry
moats, and earthen embankments (
ramparts) demarcated the baileys. The main keep was actually a
yagura relocated from
Edo Castle. The park was used as an
army barracks during
World War II. == Current site ==