Place noted in connection with Ako gishi(loyal retainers)

The Ako Castle built upon the order of Asano Naganao, taking 13 years of time from 1648, is a castle with deformed outline on the plains by the sea, a rarity in the history of modern castles. It has been designed by Kondo Masazumi, the clan's retainer and master of military tactics. The entrance turf of Ninomaru gate is said to have been arranged by Yamaga Soko, a then famous scholar of war. Ako castle has been constructed based on military tactics. Despite being built 50 years after the Tokugawa Shogunate, the castle still carries strong consciousness towards war with its zigzagging stone wall and gates facing different angles. Three sides of the castle is surrounded by the mountains. To the east is Chikusa River, and to the south is Seto Inland Sea. Ships could come in from the Shimizumon gate on the south side. The castle has been designated as a national historic site in 1971, and the Honmaru and Ninomaru Gardens have been designated as national scenic beauties in 2002. The castle is being reborn as Ako City's symbol with repairs and restoration as a cultural asset and facilitation as a city park being underway.