ここに行くには～How to get There – ページ 34 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

102.Kaminokuni-Katsuyama Date Part3

These ruins deserve a long journey to visit.

Features

Main Gate as Pivot of Defense

You will finally reach the front of the main portion, the Main Gate Ruins. If you go out of the ruins, you can see how well the gate was protected. There is another enclosure in front it, divided by a long and deep dry moat. The moat has double ditches and you need to go across them on a small bridge and a large one. These bridges are zigzagged so that enemies would sometimes be stuck when they attacked the hall. There are thick and high earthen walls with restored wooden fences around the gate ruins, where you can imagine defenders could counterattack with arrows.

The two bridges were built being zigzagged

The restored wooden fences on the earthen walls around the gate

Around the Main Gate of the Kaminokuni-Katsuyama-Date miniature model, exhibited by the Katsuyama Castle Guidance Facility

Later History

Kaminoyama-Katsuyama Date Ruins were the place of ancestor worship for the Matsumae Domain during the Edo Period. As castle ruins, they were designated as a National Historic Site in 1977, considered one of the “Kaminokuni Hall Ruins” including Hanazawa Tate, one of the Dounan 12 Halls. After that, they have been excavated and researched since 1979. That’s why the new discoveries about the mainland and Ainu people were found.

the *miniature model* of Kaminokuni-Katsuyama-Date, exhibited by the Katsuyama Castle Guidance Facility

My Impression

I think Kaminokuni-Katsuyama Date deserves not only a hall, but definitely a castle or a medieval city, too. That was the destination of the halls which the mainland people going to Ezo built. That also created a unique way of life where the mainland and Ainu people lived together. I recommend visiting the ruins even though it may take a long time for you to get there.

The Iouzan Tombs seen from the Katsuyama Castle Guidance Facility

How to get There

I recommend using a car when you visit the castle ruins because there are only a few buses available.
It is about 70km drive away from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station. From Hakodate Airport or the center of Hakodate City, it takes about 90km to get there. You can use the parking lot beside the Katsuyama Castle Guidance Facility. It may be a good idea to rent a car at the station or the airport.
To get to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station from Tokyo: Take the Hokkaido Shinkansen super express at Tokyo Station.

The parking lot beside the Katsuyama Castle Guidance Facility

Links and References

・Katsuyama Castle Guidance Facility, Kaminoyama Town

That’s all. Thank you.
Back to “Kaminokuni-Katsuyama Date Part1”
Back to “Kaminokuni-Katsuyama Date Part2”

102.上ノ国勝山館　その３

この城跡は長い旅をするだけの価値があります。

特徴、見どころ

防御の要、大手門

そして、館の主要部分の端にあたるのが大手門跡です。一旦その門跡の外側に出てみると、大手門の辺りがいかに守られていたのかがわかると思います。もう一つの曲輪が門の前にあり、長く深い空堀によって隔てられています。その空堀は二重に掘られていて、そこを渡るには小きい橋と大さい橋２つを渡る必要があります。それらの端はクランク状に渡されていて、敵が館を攻めてきた場合には、ここで滞ってしまうでしょう。門跡の周りには厚く高い土塁と、その上の木柵が復元されています。ここから守備兵が敵に対して矢を放ったりして反撃していただろうと想像できます。

上ノ国勝山館の大手門周辺の様子、勝山館跡ガイダンス施設にて展示されている模型より

その後

上ノ国勝山館跡は、江戸時代の間も松前藩の先祖崇拝の場であり続けました。城跡としては1977年に、道南十二館の一つである花沢館を含む「上ノ国館跡」として国の史跡に指定されました。その後、1979年以来発掘調査が続けられています。そのため、本州の和人とアイヌの人たちとの関係が明らかになったのです。

私の感想

上ノ国勝山館は、単なる館というのではなく、まさに城あるいは中世都市といってもよいでしょう。これは、本州から蝦夷に来た人たちが築いた館の到達点と言うべきものです。この場所はまた、和人とアイヌの人たちが共に暮らした独特の生活様式を生み出しました。ここに行くのには随分と時間がかかりますが、それだけの価値がある城跡としてお勧めできます。

ここに行くには

この城跡を訪れる際は車を使われることをお勧めします。バスの便数がとても少ないからです。
新函館北斗駅からは約７０ｋｍの道のりとなります。函館空港や函館市の中心部からであれば、約９０ｋｍくらいでしょう。勝山館跡ガイダンス施設に駐車場があります。駅か空港で、レンタカーを借りるのもよいでしょう。
東京から新函館北斗駅まで：東京駅から北海道新幹線に乗ってください。

リンク、参考情報

・史跡上之国館跡　勝山館跡（国指定史跡）、上ノ国町
・「かみのくに文化財ガイドブック」上ノ国町教育委員会
・「日本の城改訂版第６３号」デアゴスティーニジャパン
・「逆説の日本史１７江戸成熟編アイヌ民族と幕府崩壊の謎／井沢元彦著」小学館
・「海峡をつなぐ日本史」北海道・東北史研究会
・デジタル八雲町史、デジタル熊石町史

これで終わります。ありがとうございました。
「上ノ国勝山館その１」に戻ります。
「上ノ国勝山館その２」に戻ります。

3.Matsumae Castle Part3

Will the Main Tower be rebuilt or repaired?

Features

Northern and Western parts of Castle

If you have time, you should consider walking around the other sides of the castle ruins. The temple district is beside the Outer Moat Ruins at the northern side of the castle. It had originally been built for the defense of this side when the site had only the hall. However, this side eventually became the weakest point compared with the other sides of the castle. That’s why the former Shogunate Army was able to attack it. You can now enjoy a relaxing walk there seeing some of the temple buildings which were designated as Important Cultural Properties.

The map around the castle

The Outer Moat Ruins at the northern side of the castle

The main gate of Hogenji Temple as an Important Cultural Property

Ryuunin Temple as an Important Cultural Property

The western side is a promenade on the bottom of the former Outer Moat. You can walk on it by looking up at the Main Enclosure. This side is supposed to be more defensive than the northern side.

The promenade on the bottom of the former Outer Moat

You can see how tall the Main Enclosure is

Later History

After the Meiji Restoration, Matsumae Castle was abandoned and only the Main Tower and the gate in the Main Enclosure remained as the ruins. However, the tower was unfortunately burned down by an accidental fire in 1949. It was externally restored in 1961, but since it’s been 60 years, its concrete building looks old. So, Matsumae Town is considering whether the tower should be rebuilt in the original way or repaired including safety measures such anti-earthquake systems. In addition, the castle ruins have been designated as a National Historic Site since 1935.

The Main Tower of Matsumae Castle before being burned down, taken in 1935 (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The Main Tower building looks aging when you see its interior

My Impression

I think Matsumae Castle is a very unique one which has a mix of the traditional Japanese style and a newer advanced style which matches the current situation. As a result, it may have been not enough as the castle was defeated twice. However, it must also be preserved as a record of history. In my opinion, the best season for visiting it should be spring with cherry blossoms, but be aware that there will be a huge crowd as well. Cherry Blossom season is a popular time for locals as well as tourists, so expect more people than usual.

The Man Enclosure Gate in the front and the Main Tower in the back

The Man Enclosure Gate on the left and the Main Tower on the right

How to get There

I recommend using a car when you visit the castle ruins because there are only a few buses available.
It is about a 2-hour drive away from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station or the center of Hakodate City. From Hakodate Airport, it takes about 2.5 hours to get there. There is a parking lot in the castle ruins. It may be a good idea to rent a car at the station or the airport.
To get to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station from Tokyo: Take the Hokkaido Shinkansen super express at Tokyo Station.

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