The ruins have become popular since the construction of the road.
Features
Parted Barbican
In fact, the ruins were partly destroyed and divided by the Daisan-Keihin Road. You can look at one of the barbicans over the road from the entrance of the Western Enclosure. You will have to go through the tunnel under the road to get there. The top of it is one of Fujizuka Mounds, called Fuji-sengen, made for worshiping Mt. Fuji since the Edo Period. It might had been a turret base before that. When you walk out of the ruins, you will get back to the city area right away.
The map around the castle
The Daisan-Keihin Road parting the ruinsClimbing the stairways after the tunnelThe Fujizuka Mounds on the barbicanyou will soon get back to the city area
Later History
After Kozukue Castle was abandoned, the local people have called the ruins Shiroyama or the Castle Mountain. The studies about the castle started as early as in the Edo Period. However, the ruins ironically became popular as a historic site since they were partly destroyed by the construction of the Daisan-keihin Road in 1963. Through that, Yokohama City launched the Kozukue Castle Ruins Forest to preserve them in 1977. People are now interested in what the castle was like in the past.
The ruins of Kozukue Castle and Daisan-Keihin Road
My Impression
I think Kozukue Castle is a good example of how to protect a castle with few defenders. I guess if a battle happened at Kozukue Castle when Hideyoshi invaded, this castle could survive at least over one night unlike Yamanaka Castle and Hachioji Castle.
The large dry moat in front of the Western Enclosure
How to get There
I recommend using a train when you visit the ruins because the park has no parking lot. It takes about 15 minutes on foot from JR Kozukue Station on the Yokohama Line.
Kozukue StationThe castle ruins seen from the platform of Kozukue Station
The Yokohama-Kamiasao Road (Kanagawa Prefectural Road 12) goes near the station, so turn right at the Kozukue Station Intersection and go along the street. Then, turn right at the Kozukuetsuji Intersection.
Turn right at the Kozukuetsuji Intersection
Go along the street again, cross the railway and turn left at the first intersection.
Cross the railwayTurn left right away
Go along the street in the residential area, and when you find the signpost for the ruins on the utility pole on the right, turn right. You will eventually arrive at the entrance of the ruins.
Turn right when you find the signpost on the utility pole (inside the red circle)The entrance of the ruins
