13Sotogoshoin (official ceremonial hall) (Ichinoma, the first room)

This room is the sotogoshoin, the official ceremonial hall. Ceremonies such as the exhibition of gifts from the Shogun, the wedding announcement of the 11th lord Naohiro and various New Year's events were held here. A total of 320 tatami mats are used for the four rooms of Ichinoma, Ninoma, Sannoma and Yonnoma and the corridors on the south and the north. The ichinoma, the first room, was where the lord sat during official ceremonies; to reproduce this stately atmosphere, this room uses less lighting and is emptied of exhibits. The vassals mainly waited in the other three rooms, and upon the showing of the newly completed Saga Castle main palace, it is said that roughly 1,000 vassals entered the Sotogoshoin.