2022年1月 – ページ 5 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

33.Takaoka Castle Part3

Why the ruins are so great even though they only existed for a short time?

Later History

After Takaoka Castle was officially abandoned, Takaoka City prospered with trading. The Kaga Domain banned people entering the ruins of Takaoka Castle to preserve it. However, after the Meiji Restoration, the ruins were sold to private section. They were turned into residential or office area. . On the other hand, many people were worried about it and started to make the ruins a park at the same time. They established Takaoka Castle Ruins Park in 1875, developed it and completely removed the residences and offices in 1909. Since then, many public facilities were built on the park. There was even a baseball ground in the Main Enclosure once after World War II. Finally, the ruins were designated as a National Historic Site in 2015.

The old photo of the park in the late Meiji Ara, exhibited by the Takaoka City Museum

“The current map of Takaoka Map” between 1948 and 1950, exhibited by the Takaoka City Museum

The monument of the ruins of Takaoka Castle as a National Historic Site

My Impression

When I visited the ruins of Takaoka Castle, I was wondering why the ruins still have so large enclosures and water moats even though the castle only existed for a short time. In the cases of other castles being abandoned at the same time as Takaoka Castle, they were often destroyed or left alone. After visiting, I learned that the foundation and the water moats of the castle may have been built for a long time. I also learned that the Kaga Domain and local people made great efforts to maintain the ruins as well. That’s why the ruins remain very well and a very popular attraction in this area.

The remaining enclosure and water moat in the castle ruins

There is even a waterfall in the castle ruins

A view of Takaoka City from the castle ruins

How to get There

If you want to visit there by car:
It is about 15 minutes away from Takaoka IC on the Noetsu Expressway.
There are some parking lots in the park.
if you go there by train, it’s about 15 minutes walk from Takaoka Station.
To get to Takaoka Station from Tokyo: Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen super express and transfer at Toyama Station to the Ainokaze Toyama Railway.

The location map of the park at the site

That’s all. Thank you.
Back to “Takaoka Castle Part1”
Back to “Takaoka Castle Part2”

33.高岡城　その３

短命に終わった城の跡地が、なぜこんなによく残っているのでしょうか？

その後

高岡城が公式に廃城となった後、高岡は商業で栄えました。加賀藩は、高岡城跡を保護するため、人々の立ち入りを禁止しました。ところが、明治維新後、城跡は民間に売却されてしまいます。そして住宅や会社が建てられました。一方で、その状況を憂慮する人たちは、同時に城跡を公園化する活動を開始します。そして、1875年に高岡城址公園が設立され、拡張されていき、1909年には全ての住宅や会社が立ち退きとなりました。それ以来、多くの公的施設が公園に建設されました。第二次世界大戦後には、一時本丸に野球場さえありました。最終的には、城跡は2015年に国の史跡に指定されました。

私の感想

高岡城跡を訪れたとき私は、城があったのは短い期間なのに、なぜ城跡に広大な曲輪や水堀がいまだに残っているのか不思議に思いました。高岡城と同じ時期に廃城となった他の城の場合では、大抵は破壊されたり、放置されたりしています。城跡に行った後、城の基礎部分と水堀が実は長い期間かけて作られたかもしれないことを学びました。また、加賀藩や地元の人たちが大変な努力をして城跡を維持してきたことも知りました。そのために城跡が良好な状態で残り、この地域でとて有名な行楽地になっているのです。

ここに行くには

車で行く場合：
能越自動車道の高岡ICから約１５分かかります。
公園の中にいくつかの駐車場があります。
電車で行かれる場合は、高岡駅から歩いて約１５分かかります。
東京から高岡駅まで：北陸新幹線に乗り、富山駅であいの風とやま鉄道に乗り換えてください。

リンク、参考情報

・国指定史跡「高岡城跡」、高岡市立博物館
・高岡古城公園、公式ウェブサイト
・「加賀藩二代藩主　前田利長が造った城／杉本宏著」２２世紀アート
・「日本の城改訂版第４６」号」デアゴスティーニジャパン
・「よみがえる日本の城８」学研

これで終わります。ありがとうございました。
「高岡城その１」に戻ります。
「高岡城その２」に戻ります。

33.Takaoka Castle Part2

It is a natural park now.

Features

Five remaining Enclosures as Park

Today, the ruins of Takaoka Castle has become the Takaoka Old Castle Park which is open to the public. The park looks like part of the water moats rather than being surrounded of them. This is because almost all of the foundation and the water moats for the castle remained until now. In fact, the water moats occupy about one thirds of the park. It is really a natural park now as you can try going on a boat tour on the moat.

The remaining water moat at the castle ruins

There are five enclosures such as the Main Enclosure among the moats. Each enclosure is independent and they are connected each other by only earthen walls or bridges. In particular, the Main Enclosure was accessible only through other enclosures, can not be accessible directly from the outside in the past.

The miniature model of the five enclosures, exhibited by the Takaoka City Museum

The aerial photo around the castle

Main Enclosure like Hill

The Main Enclosure is the largest one and like a hill, so you have to climb up to the center of it. The enclosure has the Imizu Shrine and a square with the statue of Toshinaga Maeda standing beside it.

It was found through the excavation that the Main Hall for Toshinaga was built in the enclosure. It is uncertain about other buildings in the castle because the castle was abandoned before their completion. Only the stone walls remained at the one side of the enclosure, which may be the only castle-looking item.

The ruins of the Main Hall of the Main Enclosure by the excavation, exhibited by the Takaoka City Museum

The remaining stone walls at the Main Enclosure

Other Enclosures for Modern facilities

Other enclosures are also used for modern facilities, the Second Enclosure for the Civic Hall, the Kaji-maru Enclosure for the City Museum, the Aki-maru Enclosure for a zoo, and the Minbu-maru Enclosure for a zym.

The City Museum at the Kaji-maru Enclosure

The whole park is also very known for cherry blossoms that surrounds it, they bloom around spring. The citizens in Takaoka City are very familiar with this park and recognize Toshinaga as the founder of the city.

The cherry blossoms in the Takaoka Old Castle Park

To be continued in “Takaoka Castle Part3”
Back to “Takaoka Castle Part1”