ここに行くには～How to get There – ページ 81 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

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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159.芥川山城　その３

そこに行けば、なぜそこに城があったかわかります。

その後

芥川山城が廃城となった後、城跡の一部は農地となりました。江戸時代には、山麓にいた村人たちが山頂に三好長慶をを祀る祠を建てました。その祠は今でもあります。高槻市は、1993年以来城跡の調査研究を続けてきました。その結果、この城が日本の歴史の中で独特かつ重要であることがわかったのです。また、市は城跡を国の史跡に指定されるよう活動しています。

三好長慶を祀る祠 *(licensed by ブレイズマン via via Wikimedia Commons)*

私の感想

私がこの山の山頂に立ったとき、なぜ長慶がこの城を本拠地に選んだのかわかったような気がしました。長慶は、山頂から彼が支配する摂津国一帯を見渡すことができました。その国で何が起こっているのか把握し、必要であればすぐに行動することができたのです。更に、この城に住むことで安全を確保できました。また、想像するに長慶は芥川山城から生駒山地を見て、そこを次の本拠地にしようと考えたのではないでしょうか。そうすれば、南北両側から彼の支配国を監視でき、統治をもっと安定できるからです。

飯盛城、芥川山城の位置と摂津国の範囲

ここに行くには

ＪＲ高槻駅から塚脇行きか下の口行きの高槻市営バスに乗り、塚脇バス停で降りてください。
東京から高槻駅まで：東海道新幹線に乗り、京都駅で京都線に乗り換えてください。

リンク・参考情報

・芥川城跡／高槻市ホームページ
・「歴史群像５５号、戦国の堅城　摂津芥川山城」学研
・「歴史群像１６６号、三好長慶伝」学研

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

58.Akashi Castle Part3

The two turrets survived and remain.

Later History

After the Meiji Restoration, Akashi Castle was abandoned, and most of its buildings were sold or demolished. However, people in Akashi started to preserve the ruins of the castle as a park. Akashi Park was opened by private owners in 1883 and reopened by the local government in 1918. The four three-story turrets couldn’t all survive through the difficult period. One of them was sold as material for a school. Another one and the plaster walls between the turrets were demolished probably due to deterioration. The rest of the two turrets were somehow repaired and remain. Both were finally designated as Important Cultural Properties in 1957.

The Main Enclosure (on the left) and the Second Enclosure (on the right) that can be seen from Akashi Station

The entrance of Akashi Park (the ruins of Akashi Castle)

My Impression

The ruins of Akashi Castle certainly have few buildings, but I think the two remaining turrets and the plaster wall between them can still show us the authority of the castle. I also think that the castle uses the natural terrain wisely and its well-designed defense system is obvious throughout. Nothing special like a war happened at the castle. As a result, the castle was able to fulfill its role of monitoring the lords.

The stone wall base for the Main Tower (from the outside of the Main Enclosure)

*The stone wall base for the Main Tower (from the inside of the Main Enclosure)*

Ko-no-ike Pond at the back of the Main Enclosure

How to get There

If you want to visit there by car:
It is about 10 minutes away from Okuradani IC on Daini Shinmei Road.
The park offers parking lots.
By train, it takes about 5 minutes on foot from Akashi Station.
To get to Akashi Station from Tokyo or Osaka: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen Super Express, and transfer to the Sanyo Line at Nishi-Akashi Station.

Links and References

・Akashi Castle Official Website

That’s all.
Back to “Akashi Castle Part1”
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