The castle was constructed by the head of a powerful family clan called the Ashina about 600 years ago.It was besieged in the Battle of Aizu by the forces of the newly formed Imperial army in 1868 during the Boshin War. After a month of isolated defence, Matsudaira Katamori, a local load of this Samurai City surrendered. The castle buildings, pockmarked by artillery during the siege and structurally unstable, were demolished by the new government in 1874, and it was reconstructed in 1965 in concrete. Currently there is a museum inside, and an observation gallery on top with panoramic views of the city.