特徴～Features – ページ 109 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

147.Takatenjin Castle Part2

The Legendary Strength of The Castle

Features

Going to Castle Ruins through steep slope

Today, you can visit the ruins of Takatenjin Castle easily if you have a car. You can park in front of either the Main Route in the south or the Back Route in the north. If you want to get a taste of how tough the castle was, I recommend walking on the Back Route. The route is flat all the way to the foot of the mountain, but it gets very steep on the slope. It goes up and zigzags through rough cliffs for a while. However, when you reach the top, you will see that it is actually flat. After seeing this, you will understand that the natural terrain was more than suitable for the mountain castle.

The map around the castle

The northern entrance of Takatenjin Castle Ruins

Western ridge part

The spot you reached is called the Well Enclosure, which is the connecting point of the eastern and western ridges. The eastern ridge is the older part of the castle, which includes the Kane, Matoba, Main, Gozen, and Third Enclosures. These enclosures were built along natural terrain, which was partly surrounded by earthen walls and paths.

The original path around the Main Enclosure

The Main Enclosure is at the center and it is the highest point of the castle. You can look down vertically at the steep cliffs anywhere and see a view of Fort Hinodake, one of the Six Takatenjin Forts, from the enclosure. The Third Enclosure is located at the easternmost part of the castle, having a fine view. On a clear and sunny day, you can see a great view of Mt. Fuji in the east.

A view of Mt. Fuji from the Third Enclosure

Eastern ridge part

The western ridge is the newer part of the castle which includes the Western, Babadaira, Second, Dono-o, and Seiro Enclosures. The Western Enclosure is the highest point of the ridge where Takaten Shrine currently stands now, so you can see a good view of the Pacific Ocean in the south. The Babadaira Enclosure is below the Western Enclosure and divided by a ditch. Over the Babadaira Enclosure, there is a narrow path. This path is often referred to as “Inumodori” which translates to “Dogs return” meaning “Dogs cannot go through because it’s too tough”.

A view of the Pacific Ocean from the Western Enclosure

The ditch between the Western and Babadaira Enclosures

The Second, Dono-o and Seiro Enclosures are in a line next to the Western Enclosure, which were fortified by the Takeda Clan. This was because other mountains are connected over the Seiro Enclosure, which could have been attacked from this direction. To prevent this from happening, Takeda built a long dry moat along these enclosures and deep ditches dividing them.

The ditch between the Second and Dono-o Enclosures

To be continued in “Takatenjin Castle Part3”
Back to “Takatenjin Castle Part1”

147.高天神城　その２

行ってみると城の精強さがわかります。

特徴、見どころ

急坂を登って城跡へ

現在、車をお持ちなら容易に高天神城跡に行ってみることができます。南側の大手道か北側の搦手道のどちらでも、その手前に駐車場があります。この城の防御力の強さを実感したければ、搦手道の方から歩いてみてはいかがでしょう。搦手道は、山の麓まではずっと平坦なのですが、坂にさしかかるとものすごく急になります。そして、しばらく荒々しい崖の間をぬって曲がりくねって登っていきます。ところが、頂上に着いたとたんまた平坦になります。これらを見てみると、この自然の地形は山城にするにはうってつけだということが理解できるでしょう。

城周辺の地図

東側の峰部分

そのたどり着いた場所は井戸曲輪という所で、山の東西の峰をつないでいます。東側の峰は城の中では古い部分で、鐘曲輪、的場曲輪、本丸、御前曲輪、三の丸があります。これらの曲輪は自然の地形に沿って配置されていて、一部は土塁や通路によって囲まれています。

本丸は、城の中心部であり、もっとも高い位置にあります。そこから下を見下ろすとどこも急崖になっています。また、高天神六砦の一つ、火ヶ峰（ひがみね）砦跡が見えます。三の丸は城では最も東寄りの場所にあります。ここからの眺めは良く、天気に恵まれれば東の方角に素晴らしい富士山の姿を望めます。

東側の峰部分

西側の峰は、城の中では新しい部分であり、西の丸、馬場平、二の丸、堂の尾（どうのお）曲輪、井楼（せいろう）曲輪があります。西の丸は、この峰では最高地点にあたり、現在は高天神社が建っています。そして、南の方角には太平洋がよく見えます。馬場平は、西の丸の下に位置し、堀切によって隔てられています。馬場平の向こう側には細い山道が通じています。この道は「犬戻り」と呼ばれていて、文字通り犬さえ通れなくて戻ってくるような険しい道という意味です（高天神城が落城したとき、一人だけこの道から脱出し、武田勝頼に落城したことを知らせたそうです）。

二の丸、堂の尾、井楼曲輪は、西の丸のとなりから一直線に並んでおり、武田氏によって強化された場所です。井楼曲輪から先が他の山につながっており、ここから敵に攻撃される恐れがあったからです。その防止のため、武田方はこれらの曲輪に沿って長い空堀を作り、それぞれを深い堀切で区切りました。

「高天神城その３」に続きます。
「高天神城その１」に戻ります。

82.Ozu Castle Part2

You can enjoy both the restored Main Tower and the remaining turrets.

Features

From Entrance to Second Enclosure

Today, Ozu Castle is open to the public as the Shiroyama Park. The range of the park is the Main Enclosure and part of the Second Enclosure. The water moats, which was one of the most important features of the castle, were unfortunately reclaimed. This is so, the entrance of the park faces the public road. However, you can see the Main Tower, which had been scraped in 1888, but was restored in almost the same way in 2004.

The aerial photo around the castle

You can also walk on the road, which was probably one of the moats, into the park. You will pass the ruins of the Main Gate with some remaining stone walls, then you will be in the Second Enclosure. The enclosure had the Main Hall and lots of warehouses, and the only warehouse that remained is called” Shimo-daidokoro”.

The ruins of the Second Enclosure Main Gate

Restored Main Tower and Remaining Turrets at Main Enclosure

After that, you will climb on the hill which is the Main Enclosure. The enclosure has the lower and higher tiers. The lower tier has the ruins of a large well, so it was also called the Well Enclosure in the past. The higher tier is the highest and the center of the castle. It was surrounded by the gates, walls and turrets, but now you can easily enter the main enclosure. The restored Main Tower with the two remaining turrets both sides still stand out, which are definitely the highlight of the castle.

The stone walls around the Well Enclosure

Going to the higher tier of the Main Enclosure

The restored Main Tower (in the center), the remaining Kitchen Turret (on the right), and Handrail Turret (on the left)

These buildings are connected to each other by the other restored Passage Turrets. Visitors enter the entrance of the Kitchen Turret or Daidokoro Yagura, one of the remaining turrets. It is thought that this turret was used for a kitchen like the name as there are lots of lattice windows for ventilation. You will next go to the restored area. The materials of the area still look new unlike those of the remaining area. However, you may not feel strange because both areas were built in the same way using wooden materials. You will enter the Main Tower after going through the Passage Turret.

Interior of restored Main Tower

The Main Tower has four floors. The central part of the first and second floors is made in the open beam ceiling. For that, you can see lots of wooden pillars and how they are combined wisely. The wooden materials for the pillars were provided by many local organizations or individuals, which are shown on the panels in the tower. The panels also explain the history of the castle.

The open beam ceiling between the first and second floors

You can go up to the top floor by climbing the steep stairways but which is considered safe, using handles. You can enjoy a view of Hijikawa River from the top through a lattice window made in the original way.

The stairway from the third floor to the top floor

Handrail Turret with good views

You can also go to the other remaining turret called the Handrail Turret or Koran Yagura from the back of the Main Tower through the other Passage Turret. The turret has a veranda with the handrail at the second floor like the name. You can climb up to the floor using the original stairway. Actually, you can’t go out to the veranda probably to preserve the place. However, you can feel the floor is open and enjoy a view of the outside. The lord of the castle must have used the turret for viewing.

From the Main Tower to the Handrail Turret

The interior of the first floor of the turret

The interior of the second floor of the turret

To be continued in “Ozu Castle Part3”
Back to “Ozu Part1”