Historically, the castle was the site of a famous siege by Hashiba Hideyoshi (later known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi), a retainer of Oda Nobunaga. In the 17th century, under the rule of Ikeda Mitsumasa, the castle was expanded to the base of the mountain and was valued at 320,000 koku. The same artisans who built Himeji Castle, a National Treasure of Japan, also worked on Tottori Castle, leading it to be sometimes referred to as “Himeji Castle’s little brother.” In the Ninomaru, the outer citadel where the lord’s palace was located, the San’in region’s first three-story, sotogata-style yagura (turret) was built. It stood for many years as a symbol of the domain and a source of pride for the locals.

The Tottori-Ikeda family continued to be influential after Mitsumasa, particularly during the Meiji Restoration (1868). The 12th head of the family, Ikeda Yoshinori, played a significant role, leading the construction of high-performance reverberatory furnaces and serving in the new government’s army during the Boshin War (1868-1869). Although many castles were demolished after the Meiji Restoration, military necessity led to the preservation of many of Tottori Castle’s buildings. However, as public order stabilized, the army withdrew, and the castle’s trademark turrets were dismantled. Currently, restoration work is underway to restore the castle buildings to their original appearance.

Taikoganaru is the site of a large military headquarters built in 1581 by Hashiba Hideyoshi on a neighboring mountain during his siege of Tottori Castle. The long, three-trench-deep defensive line is particularly impressive.

Designated as a National Historic Site and selected as one of the Top 100 Japanese Castles, the ruins of Tottori Castle illustrate the evolution of Japanese castles from the medieval to the early modern and modern eras.

The architectural style of Jinpukaku reflects the progress of Western building techniques during the Meiji era. The design was overseen by Dr. Katayama Tokuma, the designer of Akasaka Palace (a designated National Treasure of Japan).

The construction of Jinpukaku was accompanied by a dramatic acceleration in the development of infrastructure, such as electricity and telephone service in urban Tottori and the laying of railroads throughout the prefecture. These advancements significantly contributed to the city’s modernization. The construction of such large, authentic Western-style buildings in regional cities was highly important and symbolized the spread of modernization and technology outside of Japan’s major population centers.

Following a period of decline after the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the construction of Jinpukaku came to symbolize the modernization of Tottori City and contributed greatly to its development.

However, tragedy struck three years after its completion. Torrential rains from a typhoon caused the earthen dam to collapse, washing away a nearby settlement. Learning from this disaster, Dr. Sano Tojiro, the civil engineer who constructed Japan’s first concrete dam, took charge of the restoration and built the Mitani Dam, a sturdy concrete dam that stands to this day. From then until 1992, the water produced at the facility served as drinking water and was used for steam locomotives and in factories, thereby contributing to the region’s development for over half a century. Although decommissioned, the facility’s Taisho era (1912-1926) water supply system remains intact and was designated a National Important Cultural Property in 2007. Today, it offers visitors an insightful glimpse into the region’s history.

Nestled in the mountains close to the city center, the site offers beautiful scenery throughout the year, from cherry blossoms and summer fireflies to autumn leaves and snowy winter landscapes. Though no longer operating as a waterworks facility, it remains an irreplaceable part of the region and is evidence of the passion and accomplishments of those who came before.