リンク、参考情報～Links and References – ページ 52 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

32.Kasugayama Castle Part3

The nature of the lords really reflected those of their castles.

Later History

The ruins of Kasugayama Castle were abandoned for a long time. In 1901, the Kasugayama Shrine was founded at the mid slope of the mountain. Since then, cedar trees were planted to cover the mountain. However, Joetsu City, who owns the ruins, is now cutting them down for visitors to see the enclosures on the mountain clearly. The excavation has just begun to reveal the castle. The ruins have been designated as a National Historic Site since 1935.

The picture of the ruins of Kasugayama Castle about 100 years ago *(Joetsu City Buried Cultural Property Center)*

The main portion of the castle from the Koguchi entrance at the Back Route

My Impression

When I visited the ruins of Kasugayama Castle, I felt that this castle is more open than other mountain castles such as the Hojo Clan’s. It could be because the castle had few defensive structures like earthen walls and dry moats for its so many enclosures. I think this comes from Kenshin Uesugi’s personality. He always fought outside of the castle and was never besieged. The castle was not actually attacked by enemies at all in Kenshin’s period. I have also been reminded that the nature of the lords really reflected those of their castles.

The guide map of the castle ruins ( from the signboard at the site)

Overlooking the enclosures from the Main Enclosure

Kenshin Uesugi on a horse drawn by the folding screen drawing of the Kawanakajima Battle

How to get There

If you want to visit there by car:
It is about 10 minutes away from Joetsu IC on Hokuriku Expressway.
The ruins offer several parking lots.
Or it takes about 30 minutes walking from Kasugayama Station on the Echigo Tokimeki Railway.
From Tokyo to Kasugayama Station: Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen Super Express and transfer at Joetsu-Myoko Station to the Echigo Tokimeki Railway.

The castle ruins which can be seen on the way from Kasugayama Station

Links and References

・Kasugayama Castle, Joetsu Tourism Convention Association

That’s all.
Back to “Kasugayama Castle Part1”
Back to “Kasugayama Castle Part2”

32.春日山城　その３

城の性格は城主次第

その後

春日山城跡は長い間放置されてきました。1901年、山の中腹に春日山神社が設立されました。それ以来、杉林が植林され、山を覆っていました。しかし、この城跡を所有している上越市は現在、山にある曲輪がくっきり見えるよう杉林を伐採しています。そして、城の実態を明らかにするための発掘がちょうど始まったところです。この城跡自体は1935年から国の史跡に指定されています。

私の感想

私が春日山城跡を訪れたとき、この城は例えば北条氏の城に比べると、随分開けた感じになっていると思いました。多分それはこんなにも多くの曲輪があるにしては、土塁や空堀といった防御のための構造物が少ないからなのでしょう。これは上杉謙信の性格から来ているのだと思うのです。謙信は常にこの城の外で戦い、決して籠城はしませんでした。実際に謙信の時代には敵から攻撃されることはなかったのです。城の性格というのは、城主によって変わってくるものだと改めて思いました。

ここに行くには

車で行く場合：
北陸自動車道の上越ICから約１０分のところです。
城跡にいくつか駐車場があります。
えちごトキめき鉄道の春日山駅からは歩いて約３０分かかります。
東京から春日山駅に行くには：
北陸新幹線に乗り、上越妙高駅でえちごトキめき鉄道に乗り換えてください。

リンク、参考情報

・春日山城跡、上越観光ナビ
・「戦国の山城を極める　厳選２２城／加藤理文　中井均著」学研プラス
・「謙信越山／乃至政彦著」ワニブックス
・「日本の城改訂版第８０号」デアゴスティーニジャパン
・「列島縦断「幻の名城」を訪ねて／山名美和子著」集英社新書

これで終わります。
「春日山城その１」に戻ります。
「春日山城その２」に戻ります。

22.Hachioji Castle Part3

A castle which may be misundersood

Later History

After Hachioji Castle fell, the castle was abandoned. The ruins have been very well preserved as the Tokugawa Shogunate directly owned the land and did not allow people to access the area. The Japanese Government also considered the area as a national forest and did not allow for the removal of trees. The ruins were designated as a National Historic Site in 1951. Since then, Hachioji City has been investigating and developing them as a historical park.

My Impression

Hachioji City is a large city with a population of nearly 600,000. The city first started as the castle town for Hachioji Castle. I knew this fact, but I hadn’t visited the castle ruins until recently. Before that, I thought the ruins may not have been interesting because the castle fell in just one day. Since my visit, I now feel the castle could have escaped capture if it had enough commanders and soldiers.

The stone walls around the entrance of the Main Hall ruins

How to get There

If you want to visit there using public transportation:
Take the Nishi-Tokyo bus from the bus stop No.1 at the north entrance of JR Takao Station, and get off at the Reien-Mae, Hachioji-joato-Iriguchi bus stop.
If you want to visit there by car:
It is about 10 minutes away from Hachioji-Nishi IC on Metropolitan Inter-City Expressway.
The guidance facility offers a parking lot.

Links and References

・Hachioji Castle, Official Guide

That’s all.
Back to “Hachioji Castle Part1”
Back to “Hachioji Castle Part2”