リンク、参考情報～Links and References – ページ 54 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

160.Imori Castle Part3

The ruins are becoming a National Historic Site.

Later History

Imori Mountain was developed as a tourist spot in the Modern Times. For example, the statue of Masatsura Kusunoki and the stand for hoisting the national flag were built on the top. In addition, an amusement park was built on the Senjojiki Enclosure during the early Showa Era which might have destroyed part of the castle ruins. Shijonawate and Daito Citys, which own the ruins of Imori Castle dividedly, have recently been excavating the ruins. That’s why new discoveries such as the stone walls are often found. They aim to have the ruins designated as a National Historic Site.

*The remaining stone walls at the eastern side of the Main Enclosure* (quoted from the Daito City Website)

My Impression

I think visiting the ruins of Imori Castle is like killing two birds with one stone. You can see the castle ruins while taking a hike. In addition, you may find a new discovery from the recent excavation with every visit.

As for Nagayoshi Miyoshi, if he lived a little longer, the Japanese history might have been different. Nobunaga Oda would not have gotten to Kyoto that easily, so his unification of Japan would be impossible. Nobunaga was not only strong, but also very fortunate.

Part of the *portrait of Nagayoshi Miyoshi, owned by Juko-in of Daitokuji Temple (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)*

How to get There

It takes about one and a half hours from Shijonawate Station or Nozaki Station on JR Gakuen-toshi line to the castle ruins on foot.
To get to the stations from Tokyo: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen Super Express, transfer to the Osaka-Higashi Line at Shin-Osaka Station, and transfer to the Gakuen-toshi Line at Hanaten Station.

Links and References

・Daito City Website
・Shijonawate City Website

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

160.飯盛城　その３

城跡が国の史跡になろうとしています。

その後

飯盛城は近代には観光地として開発されました。例えば、山頂に楠木正行の銅像や国旗掲揚台が作られたりしました。更には、昭和初期には千畳敷曲輪に遊園地が建設され、それは城跡を破壊したことになったのかもしれません。最近、飯盛城跡を分割して所有している四条畷市と大東市は遺跡の発掘を続けてきました。そして、城跡が国の史跡として指定されることを目指しています。

私の感想

飯盛城を訪れることは、一石二鳥になると思うのです。ハイキングをしながら城跡の見物ができるからです。更には、毎回行くたびに最新の発掘から見つかった発見を目にすることができるかもしれません。

三好長慶に関しては、もし彼がもう少し長く生きていれば、日本の歴史は違っていたかもしれません。織田信長は簡単には上洛することができず、彼の天下統一は不可能だったかもしれません。信長は強いだけではなく、相当に幸運でもあったのです。

*三好長慶肖像画部分、大徳寺聚光院蔵 (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)*

ここに行くには

歩いて城跡に行くには、ＪＲ学園都市線の四条畷駅または野崎駅から約１時間半かかります。
東京からこれらの駅に行くには：東海道新幹線に乗って、新大阪駅で大阪東線に乗り換え、放出駅で学園都市線に乗り換えてください。

リンク・参考情報

・飯盛城跡、四条畷市ホームページ
・三好長慶と飯盛城、大東市ホームページ
・「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
・「歴史群像１６６号、戦国の城　河内飯盛城」学研

これで終わります。
「飯盛城その１」に戻ります。
「飯盛城その２」に戻ります。

159.Akutagawa-san Castle Part3

When you get there, you can see why the castle was built there.

Later History

After Akutagawa-san Castle was abandoned, part of the ruins was turned into a farm. In the Edo Period, people at a village on the foot of the mountain built a shrine for worshiping Nagayoshi Miyoshi on the top. The shrine is still there. Takatsuki City has continued to investigate and study the ruins of the castle since 1993. It found that the castle was unique and important in Japanese history. It also aims to have the ruins designated as a National Historic Site.

The shrine for worshiping Nagayoshi Miyoshi *(licensed by ブレイズマン via via Wikimedia Commons)*

The remaining stone walls of the Main Gate

My Impression

When I stood on the top of the mountain, I felt that I found the reason why Nagayoshi chose this castle as his home base. It could be because he was able to see his Settsu Province from the top of the mountain. This would allow him to see what was happening in the province, and easily rush there if needed. In addition, the castle provided him with enough security to live. I was also wondering if he considered Ikoma Mountains as his next home base when he saw them from Akutagawa-san Castle. If he could have a castle on the mountains, he would monitor his province from both sides of the north and south, which would make his governance more stable.

Ikoma Mountains where Imori Castle was built

The locations of Imori Castle and Akutagawa-san Castle, and the range of Settsu Province

How to get There

Take the Takatsuki City Bus bound for Tsukawaki or Shimonokuchi from JR Takatsuki Station and get off at the Tsukawaki bus stop.
To get to Takatsuki Station from Tokyo: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen Super Express, and transfer to the Kyoto Line at Kyoto Station.

Links and References

・Takatsuki City Official Website (Access to the Summit of Mt. Miyoshi)

That’s all.
Back to “Akutagawa-san Castle Part1”
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