Renowned as a master castle builder, Todo Takatora began constructing Uwajima Castle in 1601, designing it as a sea fortress that made skillful use of terrain surrounded by water on three sides — then known as Itajima Marukushi Castle. Although Takatora himself was transferred to Tsu in Ise Province in 1608, the layout he devised was inherited by the Date clan and survives today as one of Japan's original castle keeps.