私の感想～My Impression – ページ 37 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

3.Matsumae Castle Part3

Will the Main Tower be rebuilt or repaired?

Features

Northern and Western parts of Castle

If you have time, you should consider walking around the other sides of the castle ruins. The temple district is beside the Outer Moat Ruins at the northern side of the castle. It had originally been built for the defense of this side when the site had only the hall. However, this side eventually became the weakest point compared with the other sides of the castle. That’s why the former Shogunate Army was able to attack it. You can now enjoy a relaxing walk there seeing some of the temple buildings which were designated as Important Cultural Properties.

The map around the castle

The Outer Moat Ruins at the northern side of the castle

The main gate of Hogenji Temple as an Important Cultural Property

Ryuunin Temple as an Important Cultural Property

The western side is a promenade on the bottom of the former Outer Moat. You can walk on it by looking up at the Main Enclosure. This side is supposed to be more defensive than the northern side.

The promenade on the bottom of the former Outer Moat

You can see how tall the Main Enclosure is

Later History

After the Meiji Restoration, Matsumae Castle was abandoned and only the Main Tower and the gate in the Main Enclosure remained as the ruins. However, the tower was unfortunately burned down by an accidental fire in 1949. It was externally restored in 1961, but since it’s been 60 years, its concrete building looks old. So, Matsumae Town is considering whether the tower should be rebuilt in the original way or repaired including safety measures such anti-earthquake systems. In addition, the castle ruins have been designated as a National Historic Site since 1935.

The Main Tower of Matsumae Castle before being burned down, taken in 1935 (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The Main Tower building looks aging when you see its interior

My Impression

I think Matsumae Castle is a very unique one which has a mix of the traditional Japanese style and a newer advanced style which matches the current situation. As a result, it may have been not enough as the castle was defeated twice. However, it must also be preserved as a record of history. In my opinion, the best season for visiting it should be spring with cherry blossoms, but be aware that there will be a huge crowd as well. Cherry Blossom season is a popular time for locals as well as tourists, so expect more people than usual.

The Man Enclosure Gate in the front and the Main Tower in the back

The Man Enclosure Gate on the left and the Main Tower on the right

How to get There

I recommend using a car when you visit the castle ruins because there are only a few buses available.
It is about a 2-hour drive away from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station or the center of Hakodate City. From Hakodate Airport, it takes about 2.5 hours to get there. There is a parking lot in the castle ruins. It may be a good idea to rent a car at the station or the airport.
To get to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station from Tokyo: Take the Hokkaido Shinkansen super express at Tokyo Station.

That’s all. Thank you.
Back to “Matsumae Castle Part1”
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3.松前城　その３

天守の木造再建の是非が議論されています。

特徴、見どころ

城の北側と西側

もしお時間があれば、城跡の他の部分にも足を延ばしてみてはいかがでしょうか。寺町地区は、城の北側の外堀跡に沿った場所です。この地区そのものが元はここに御殿しかなかったときに、北側の防衛のために設けられたものです。ところが、そのうち城ができたときには他の方角と比べて、一番弱い場所になってしまいました。そのため、旧幕府軍はこちら側から攻撃をかけたのです。現在ではここはゆっくり歩ける場所になっていて、寺の建物のいくつかは重要文化財に指定されています。

城周辺の地図

城の西側は、以前外堀の底だった場所が遊歩道になっています。本丸を見上げながら、歩いていくことができます。こちら側は、城の北側よりは守りが固いように思えます。

その後

明治維新後、松前城は廃城となり、本丸にある天守と門だけが史跡として残されました。ところが残念ながら、1949年に失火により天守は焼け落ちてしまいました。そして1961年には外観復元されたのですが、それから６０年が経過し、コンクリート造りの建物としては老朽化しています。松前町は、天守を木造のオリジナルの工法で再建するか、それとも耐震基準などの安全対策を講じて修繕を行うのか検討しているところです。なお、城跡自体は1935以来国の史跡に指定されています。

焼失前の松前城天守、1935年 *(licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)*

私の感想

松前城は、伝統的な日本式と、築城当時の状況に即して進んだ様式がミックスされた、とてもユニークな城だと思います。結果的にそれが中途半端な形になってしまい、２度の落城を招いてしまったのかもしれません。しかし、歴史の記録としてそれはそれで保存されるべきです。個人的な見解ですが、ここを訪れるには桜の季節がもっとも良いでしょうが、また大変込み合うことも想像できます。桜を見るために地元の人も観光客も普段に増して押し寄せるでしょう。ですので、何を目的をするかで訪れる時期を決められたらよいと思います。

ここに行くには

この城跡を訪れる際は車を使われることをお勧めします。バスの便数がとても少ないからです。
新函館北斗駅または函館市の中心部から約２時間の道のりとなります。函館空港からであれば、２時間半くらいはかかるでしょう。城跡内に駐車場があります。駅か空港で、レンタカーを借りるのもよいでしょう。
東京から新函館北斗駅まで：東京駅から北海道新幹線に乗ってください。

リンク、参考情報

・松前氏城跡福山城跡、松前町
・「よみがえる日本の城９」学研
・「日本の城改訂版第５０号」デアゴスティーニジャパン
・「幕末維新の城／一坂太郎著」中公新書
・デジタル八雲町史、デジタル熊石町史

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

133.Samegao Castle Part3

A way to enjoy visiting castles and castle ruins

Features

Main Enclosure and Granary Ruins

The Main Enclosure on the top of the mountain is above the meeting point of the routes. There is a rest station on the top where you can take a rest and enjoy a nice view of the Kubiki Plain, which was the core territory of the Uesugi Clan in the past.

The map around the Main Enclosure

Looking up the Main Enclosure from the meeting point

Another enclosure called Komegura-ato, or the granary ruins, is just below the Main Enclosure over another ditch. Lots of burned rice grains were found in this enclosure, probably for the same reason as the Third Enclosure. The ditches around the Main Enclosure seem to have been used as access ways, which is also interesting.

The granary ruins seen from the Main Enclosure

The ditch between the Main Enclosure and the granary ruins

The Main Enclosure seen from the granary ruins

This ditch has also been used as an access way

Later History

After the Otate Rebellion, Samegao Castle was abandoned. The burned rice grains in the granary ruins were already known in the Edo Period. The research of the castle ruins started in 1963. The excavation was also done between 2001 and 2006. It found that the ruins still kept the state of the abandoned castle in good condition. As a result, They were designated as a National Historic Site in 2008.

The sign of Samegao Castle Ruins at the Main Enclosure

My Impression

The ruins of Samegao Castle are becoming popular among history fans, including women, due to the tragic story of Kagetora Uesugi. Some historians also speculate that if Kagetora had won in the Otate Rebellion, the three clans, the Uesugi, Takeda and Hojo, could have been united against the threat from the rulers in western Japan, Nobunaga Oda and Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Historical fact tells us the Takeda and the Hojo were isolated from each other after the rebellion, and defeated one by one. Only the Uesugi somehow survived. It may be a good way to visit a castle or castle ruins to think about real history or speculative history.

The portrait of Nobunaga Oda who defeated the Takeda Clan, attributed to Soshu Kano, owned by Chokoji Temple, in the late 16th century (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The Portrait of Hideyoshi Toyotomi who defeated the Hojo Clan, attributed to Mitsunobu Kano, owned by Kodaiji Temple (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

How to get There

If you want to visit the ruins by car, it is about a 15-minute drive away from Joetsu IC or Nakago IC on the Joshinetsu Expressway. There is a parking lot for visitors in front of the park.
If you want to use public transportation, it takes about 30 minutes on foot from Kita-Arai Station on the Echigo Tokimeki Railway to get there.
To get to Kita-Arai Station from Tokyo: Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen Super Express and transfer at Joetsu-Myoko Station to the Echigo Tokimeki Railway.

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