[1] The castle ruins are located in the city of Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.

The castle was originally constructed in 1214 by Baba Sukemoto.

This clan continued the rule of the castle, until it was taken in 1416 by Edo Michifusa.

During the Edo Era the castle was held by the Mito branch of the Tokugawa clan, one of the Gosanke, three branch families of the Tokugawa that could provide an heir if necessary.

The proximity of Mito to Edo meant that the Mito branch of the family was influential throughout the Edo era.