ここに行くには～How to get There – ページ 48 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

16.Minowa Castle Part3

If you were a general, which way you would prefer?

Features

Remaining Stone Walls along Main Route

You can also walk on the Main Route up from the western side of the hill or down from the Second Enclosure. The route goes through the Third Enclosure where you can see the remaining stone walls here and there. It is thought that the builder, Naomasa Ii aimed to show his authority to the visitors passing the route. The Ii Clan later built Hikone Castle using much greater stone walls, but they built stone walls of Minowa Castle as much as they can at that time.

The map around the castle

The remaining stone walls of the Kaji Enclosure on the Main Route

Going to the Third Enclosure from the Kaji Enclosure

The remaining stone walls of the Third Enclosure

Later History

The ruins of Minowa Castle was designated as a National Historic Site in 1987. After that, the excavation was done widely between 1998 and 2006 by Takasaki City which owns the ruins. Since then, the city has been developing the ruins as a historical park.

The earthen walls and stone walls over the great artificial trench were also developed

The trail going on the bottom of the trench

My Impression

I was very impressed by Narimasa Nagano and his clan’s way of life to devote themselves to their master and territory. There were also other generals who had different ways of lives such as the Obata and Sanada Clans. If you were a general or warrior in the Sengoku Period, which way you would prefer? In addition, if we apply their lives in present times, the life of the Nagano Clan would be like working for the same company for a long time, the Obata Clan would be changing careers often, and the Sanada Clan would be starting a business. We can think about our own lives from learning about those generals in the Sengoku Period.

The wooden statue of Narimasa Nagano, owned by Chojunji Temple, quoted from the website of Takasaki City

Norizane Obata drawn in the “Battle of Nagashino” folding screens, exhibited by Kanra Town Museum of History and Folklore

The portlait of Masayuki Sanada, the successor of Yukitaka Sanada, who struggled to be independently, privately owned (licensed under Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

How to get There

I recommend using a car when you visit the ruins.
It is about a 30-minute drive away from Takasaki or Maebashi IC on the Kanetsu Expressway. You can park at several parking lots in the ruins.
If you want to use public transportation, you can take the Gunma Bus bound for Ikaho-Onsen from Takasaki Station and get off at the Shiroyama-Iriguchi bus stop. It takes about 5 minutes on foot from the bus stop to get there.
To get to Takasaki Station from Tokyo: Take the Joetsu Shinkansen super express.

The parking lot in front of the Back Route

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

16.箕輪城　その３

戦国時代の武将だとしたら、誰の生き方を選ぶでしょうか。

特徴、見どころ

大手道沿いに残る石垣

また、大手道を丘の西側から登っていくか、二の丸の方から下っていくこともできます。大手道は三の丸を通っていて、あちこちに現存する石垣を見ることができます。石垣を築いた井伊直政は、この道を通る人々に城主としての権威を示そうとしたのです。井伊氏は、後にもっと立派な石垣を使って彦根城を築くのですが、この時点では、彼らの持てるだけの力で箕輪城のこの石垣を築いたのです。

城周辺の地図

その後

箕輪城跡は1987年に国の史跡に指定されました。その後、1998年から2006年の間、城跡を所有する高崎市が発掘作業を広範に実施しました。それ以来、市によって歴史公園として整備されています。

私の感想

長野業政やその一族が、主君や自らの領地を守るために一心に尽くす姿に感銘を受けました。しかしその一方で、小幡氏や真田氏のようにまるで違う生き方をした武将たちも存在したのです。もしあなたが戦国時代の武将だったとしたら、どの生き方を選ぶでしょうか。ついでながら、その武将たちの生き方を現在に例えるならば、長野氏の人生は長い間同じ会社で働く人、小幡氏の場合は転職を繰り返す人、真田氏は自ら事業を起こす人といった具合でしょうか。戦国時代の武将たちの生き方を学ぶことで、現在の自分自身の生き方にも参考になるのではないでしょうか。

真田幸隆の後継者で独立を目指した真田昌幸の肖像画、個人蔵 (licensed under Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

ここに行くには

この城跡に行くのには、車を使われることをお勧めします。
関越自動車道の高崎ICか前橋ICから約３０分かかります。城跡にいくつか駐車場があります。
公共交通機関を使う場合は、高崎駅から伊香保温泉行の群馬バスに乗り、城山入口バス停で降りてください。バス停から歩いて約５分のところです。
東京から高崎駅まで：上越新幹線に乗ってください。

リンク、参考情報

・箕輪城跡（観光情報）　高崎市
・「箕輪城と長野氏／近藤義雄著」戒光祥出版
・「家康と家臣団の城／加藤理文著」角川選書

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

141.Gujo-Hachiman Castle Part3

The oldest wooden rebuilt Main Tower

Features

Pine Enclosure and Back in Castle

Other than the Main Tower, you can visit the neighboring Pine Enclosure through the path on the upper tier of the Belt Enclosures. There is a monument of the Ryosotai Party which escaped the Gujo Domain which supported the New Government during the Meiji Restoration. They joined the domains supporting the shogunate and fought against the New Government Army located Wakamatsu Castle.

The upper tier Belt Enclosure as the path connecting the Cherry Enclosure and the Pine Enclosure

Going to the Pine Enclosure through the upper tier Belt Enclosure

The parking on the top was one of the ditches behind the castle where most of the fierce fightings happened in 1600. There is a well in the ruins, which was said to have been used to wash the head of slain warriors in battle.

The ruins of the well for washing the head

Later History

After the Meiji Restoration, Gujo-Hachiman Castle was eventually abandoned and all the castle buildings were demolished. In 1932, the mayor, Chuhei Nakagami suggested the Main Tower be rebuilt in order to revitalize the town. Other people agreed with him and began making donations. The tower was constructed using the external design plans of Ogaki Castle whose Main Tower remained at that time, however it would be burned down by an air raid in 1945. People also considered how the tower would have looked like when they look up at it from the town. The rebuilt tower was finally completed in 1933.

The old photo of Ogaki Castle, the Main Tower on the right (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The rebuilt Main Tower of Gujo-Hachiman Castle

My Impression

When I visited Gujo-Hachiman town, I thought the purpose of the town was to successfully built a beautiful castle as its symbol. You can see a good view of the Main Tower from any parts of the town. I also finally understood that no matter weather the original tower was there or not, the castle is still very important and much needed by the people of the town.

How to get There

If you want to visit the castle by car, it is about 15 minutes away from Gujo-Hachiman IC on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway. There are several parking lots for visitors aroud the castle.
By public transportation, it takes about 20 minutes on foot from the Gujo-Hachiman Jokamachi Plaza.
To get to the plaza from Tokyo or Osaka: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen Super Express, transfer to Tokaido Local Line at Nagoya Station and get off at Gifu Station. Then, take the Gifu bus on the highway Hachiman line and get off at the Jokamachi Plaza bus stop.

The parling lot at the foot of the mountain

That’s all. Thank you.
Back to “Gujo-Hachiman Castle Part1”
Back to “Gujo-Hachiman Castle Part2”