特徴～Features – ページ 139 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

33.Takaoka Castle Part2

It is a natural park now.

Features

Five remaining Enclosures as Park

Today, the ruins of Takaoka Castle has become the Takaoka Old Castle Park which is open to the public. The park looks like part of the water moats rather than being surrounded of them. This is because almost all of the foundation and the water moats for the castle remained until now. In fact, the water moats occupy about one thirds of the park. It is really a natural park now as you can try going on a boat tour on the moat.

The remaining water moat at the castle ruins

There are five enclosures such as the Main Enclosure among the moats. Each enclosure is independent and they are connected each other by only earthen walls or bridges. In particular, the Main Enclosure was accessible only through other enclosures, can not be accessible directly from the outside in the past.

The miniature model of the five enclosures, exhibited by the Takaoka City Museum

Leaflet|国土地理院

The aerial photo around the castle

Main Enclosure like Hill

The Main Enclosure is the largest one and like a hill, so you have to climb up to the center of it. The enclosure has the Imizu Shrine and a square with the statue of Toshinaga Maeda standing beside it.

It was found through the excavation that the Main Hall for Toshinaga was built in the enclosure. It is uncertain about other buildings in the castle because the castle was abandoned before their completion. Only the stone walls remained at the one side of the enclosure, which may be the only castle-looking item.

The ruins of the Main Hall of the Main Enclosure by the excavation, exhibited by the Takaoka City Museum

The remaining stone walls at the Main Enclosure

Other Enclosures for Modern facilities

Other enclosures are also used for modern facilities, the Second Enclosure for the Civic Hall, the Kaji-maru Enclosure for the City Museum, the Aki-maru Enclosure for a zoo, and the Minbu-maru Enclosure for a zym.

The City Museum at the Kaji-maru Enclosure

The whole park is also very known for cherry blossoms that surrounds it, they bloom around spring. The citizens in Takaoka City are very familiar with this park and recognize Toshinaga as the founder of the city.

The cherry blossoms in the Takaoka Old Castle Park

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

33.高岡城　その２

今は自然公園になっています。

特徴、見どころ

公園として残る５つの曲輪

今日、高岡城跡は高岡古城公園となり、一般に公開されています。この公園は水堀に囲まれているというよりも、水堀の中にあるように見えます。これは城の基礎部分や水堀のほとんど全てが今に残されているからです。実は、水堀はこの公園の３分の１を占めているのです。その堀では水上ツアーも催されていて、まさに今は自然公園になっています。

堀の中には、本丸など５つの曲輪があります。それぞれの曲輪は独立していて、お互いが土塁か橋によってのみつながっていました。特に本丸は、過去には他の曲輪を通ってから入ることができ、外部から直接入ることはできませんでした。

Leaflet|国土地理院

城周辺の航空写真

丘のような本丸

本丸はもっとも大きな曲輪でまるで丘のようであり、中央部に行くには登っていく必要があります。そこには射水神社と、前田利長の銅像が傍らに立っている広場があります。

発掘によって、この曲輪には利長の御殿が建っていたことがわかっています。城の完成前に廃城となってしまったため、他の建物についてはよくわかっていません。本丸の片側にだけ石垣が残っていて、これが唯一の城らしいものかもしれません。

施設の敷地となっている他の曲輪

他の曲輪は近代施設のために使われています。二の丸には市民会館、鍛冶丸には市立博物館、明き丸には動物園、民部丸には市民体育館があります。

この公園全体は桜の名所でもあり、春にはその花が公園を包みます。高岡市民はこの公園に親しみを持っていて、利長を市の開祖として尊敬しています。

「高岡城その３」に続きます。
「高岡城その１」に戻ります。

34.Nanao Castle Part3

Watch out for wild animals.

Features

You can also visit other enclosures near the Main Enclosure. For instance, the Nukui Residence is next to the Sakura Riding Ground. It has the ruins of its entrance which was built using a huge stone called Kyu-shaku-ishi or 2.7m Wide Stone, which might have been the Back Gate of the castle.

The ruins of its entrance which was built using a huge stone called 2.7m Wide Stone

The Second Enclosure is the next to the Nukui Residence, which was also an important defensive point. Finally, the Third Enclosure is over another large deep ditch. Unfortunately, you will have to go up and down the stairs on very steep cliffs to get there.

The imaginary drawing of the Second Enclosure (from the signboard at the site)

Later History

In the Edo Period after Nanao Castle was abandoned, the Kaga Domain banned people from cutting down trees around the mountain. This prevented farmers cutting down trees and materials. The study of the ruins started about 100 years ago, and as a result, the ruins were designated as a National Historic Site in 1934. Nanao City has been maintaining the ruins since 1966. The city is planning to provide a fine landscape in the main portion and develop the Main Route from the foot of the mountain while preserving the ruins properly.

The city view of Nanao City from the castle ruins

The Main Route to the main portion of the castle

My Impression

I saw the signboard at the site that wonders of wild boars that often dig up the ruins. When I walked down from the Second Enclosure to get to the Third Enclosure, I noticed the back of a wild boar. I have been told that wild boars can attack you suddenly without warning. Therefore, I decided to give up to get there and head back. Visiting mountain castles is very interesting as long as you take precaution. Be careful not to provoke wild animals, as they can attack you unknowingly.

The signboard that tells about wild boars

How to get There

I recommend using a car when you visit the ruins.
If you want to go directly to the main portion of the castle,
It is about 15 minutes away from Nanao-Shiroyama IC on the Noto Expressway.
If you want to walk from the foot of the mountain,
I would recommend parking at the Nanao Castle History Museum. it takes about one hour to the top going through the Main Route.

Links and References

・Historic Site Nanao Castle Ruis, Nanao City

That’s all. Thank you.
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