Gifu Castle tower

Gifu Castle was originally called Inabayama Castle. Its known history starts from the 16th century with Lord Saito Dosan. Oda Nodunaga later took over the castle in 1567. He also renamed Inaba city as "Gifu."

Nobunaga left Gifu Castle and moved to Azuchi Castle in Shiga Pref. His sons took over Gifu Castle. Right before the Battle of Sekigahara, Tokygawa Ieyasu's forces attacked Gifu Castle which burned to the ground on Aug. 23, 1600.

The current castle tower was reconstructed in 1954.