その後～Later History – ページ 66 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

84.Kochi Castle Part3

Why would Kochi Castle maintain so many original buildings?

Features

Interior of Main Tower

The first floor of the tower has some equipment for defense, such as machicolations and loopholes for guns. In addition, there are also iron spikes outside the floor to prevent enemies from climbing the tower, which is the only remaining example in Japan.

On the second floor, you can see lot of exhibitions about the castle like a miniature model.

The third floor is basically the attic of the hip-and-gable roof, but it has windows and space inside the roof for defenders who could counter attackers.

On the fourth floor, you can see one of the bronze grampuses on the roof close by through the window.

The bronze grampuses seen through the window

The fifth floor is a very dark attic, by contrast, the top floor is open and bright where you can enjoy a great view of the castle and city to all directions. You can also walk around the veranda (another steel handrail was added for safety and preservation) like the lord of the castle used to do.

Later History

After the Meiji Restoration, Kochi Castle was turned into Kochi Park. All the buildings in the Second and Third Enclosures were demolished while the buildings in the Main Enclosure and a few others remain. All the 15 remaining castle buildings have been designated as Important Cultural Properties since 1950. The castle also became a National Historic Site in 1959.

My Impression

When I visited Kochi Castle for the first time many years ago, I misunderstood the reason for the small Main Hall in the Main Enclosure. I thought it was because Japanese people in the past were shorter and smaller than now. In my recent second visit, I understood its real reason. I guess if the hall was very large, it might have been demolished like the hall in the Second Enclosure when the castle once became the park. If it is true, fortune is unpredictable and changeable.

The interior of the Main Hall of the Main Enclsosure

How to get There

If you want to visit there by car:
It is about 15 minutes away from Kochi IC on Kochi Expressway.
There are several parking lots around the castle such as the Kochi Park Parking Lot.
By public transportation, take the Tosaden Bus from JR Kochi Station and get off at the Kochijo-mae bus stop.
If you go there from Tokyo or Osaka, I recommend traveling by plane or using an express bus.

Links and References

・Kochi Castle Pamphlets

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

84.高知城　その３

なぜ高知城にはこんなにも建物が残っているのでしょうか。

特徴、見どころ

天守の内部

天守の一階には、石落としや狭間などの防御のための仕組みがあります。更には、この階の外側には「忍び返し」と呼ばれる鉄剣があり、天守を登ってくる敵を防げるようになっています。これは日本で唯一現存例となります。

二階では、城の模型など城に関する様々な展示を見ることができます。

三階は基本的に入母屋屋根の屋根裏部屋となりますが、窓があって、屋根の内側に守備兵が入れる場所があり、攻撃側に反撃できるようになっていました。

四階では、窓越しに屋根の上にある青銅製の鯱を間近に見ることができます。

五階はとても暗い屋根裏部屋です。

対照的に最上階は開放的で明るく、全方向でこの城と高知市の眺めを満喫できます。ここでは、かつて城主がそうしていたように、回り縁をぐるりと歩いてみることもできます（鉄製の欄干が安全とオリジナルの欄干の保護のために取り付けられています）。

その後

明治維新後、高知城は高知公園となりました。二ノ丸と三ノ丸にあった全ての建物は撤去される一方、本丸にあったものとその他いくつかの建物は残されました。その残っている１５の建物は、1950年以来、重要文化財に指定されています。この城はまた、1959年に国の史跡にもなっています。

私の感想

私がこの城を随分前に初めて訪れたとき、本丸にある御殿が小さい理由を誤解していました。そのときは、昔の日本人が今より背が低く、小さかったからだと思ってしまったのです。最近再び訪れることで、本当の理由がわかりました。それとともに、もし本丸御殿がとても大きかったならば、この城が公園になったときに、もしかすると二ノ丸の御殿のように取り壊されてしまったのではないかと思うようになりました。もしそれが当たっていれば、世の中何が幸いするかわからないということでしょう。

ここに行くには

高知自動車道の高知ICから約１５分かかります。
城の周りにいくつか高知公園駐車場があります。
公共交通機関を使う場合は、ＪＲ高知駅から、とさでんバスに乗り、高知城前バス停で降りてください。
東京か大阪から来られる場合は、飛行機か高速バスを使われることをお勧めします。

リンク、参考情報

・高知城、公式ホームページ
・「よみがえる日本の城１３」学研
・「よみがえる日本の城、天守のすべて２」学研
・「長宗我部／長宗我部友親著」文春文庫

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

180.Okoh Castle Part3

The Ichiryo-Gusoku group and their reappearance

Features

Walking around Castle Ruins

The Enclosure which was supposed to be a Former Stable is a little far from the main portion of the castle. It was used as a lookout as well.

The map around the castle

The castle also had many dry moats dug on the mountain in both vertical and horizontal directions to prevent enemies from attacking. You can still see some of them remained.

The castle ruins now have many routes like network and many enclosures for stop and rest, so you can enjoy walking and relaxing as well as learning history.

Some of the routes going around the castle ruins

A view from the Enclosure which was supposed to be a Former Stable

Later History

After Okoh Castle was abandoned, the Chosogabe Clan was unfortunately fired by the Tokugawa Shogunate. The Yamanouchi Clan from Kakegawa Caste came to govern Tosa Province and lived in Kochi Castle. The remaining Ichiryo-Gusoku group suffered from the Yamanouchi high-class warriors as the low class ones during the Edo Period. However, due to their rebellious spirit, some heroes in the Meiji Restoration such as Ryoma Sakamoto and Shintato Nakaoka appeared from the low class to change Japan later.

The portrait of Ryoma Sakamoto, published in a book called Kinsei Meishi Shashin vol.2 (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The photo of Shintaro Nakaoka, published in a book called Ishin Tosa Kinnoshi (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

As for the castle ruins, they were first developed as a normal park with cherry trees planted. The excavation was done between 1985 and 1990. Since then, the ruins have been developing as Okoh Mountain Historical Park. They were finally designated as a National Historical Site in 2008. In addition, Kochi Prefectural Museum of History was built beside the park in 1991, where you can learn more about the castle and the Chosogabe Clan.

My Impression

I recommend visiting the three Chosogabe’s home base castles at once because they are close to each other. Kochi Castle basically remains as the Yamanouchi Clan’s legacy now, but the castle’s hill still has many tiers like Okoh Castle, probably it came from Chosogabe’s period. Though the ruins of Urado Castle were mostly destroyed by modern facilities, you can still see the great ocean view of Katsurahama Beach and the famous statue of Ryoma Sakamoto nearby.

The statue of Ryoma Sakamoto (taken by 末っ子魂 from photoAC)

How to get There

I recommend using a car when you visit the ruins.
It is about 10 minutes away from Nankoku IC on the Kochi Expressway.
The park offers a parking lot.
If you go there from Tokyo or Osaka, I recommend going there by plane. When you get there, it’s better to rent a car as there are few buses in the area.

Links and References

・National Historical Site: Oko Castle Ruins, Kochi Prefectural Museum of History

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