リンク、参考情報～Links and References – ページ 51 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

132.Takada Castle Part3

A park for the illuminated cherry blossoms, the lotus flowers and the castle ruins

Later History

After the Meiji Restoration, Takada Castle was used as a ground for the Japanese Army. The Main Hall and the Three-story Turret were unfortunately burned in 1870, and all other buildings of the castle were also demolished. Local people started to plant lotus to earn money for themselves as well as the former warriors at the same time. That lotus has now become an attraction of the city. In 1908, the headquarters for the 13th Division of the Japanese Army was set at the Main Enclosures of the castle. The army destroyed most of the earthen walls and buried many of the moats. Instead, they planted a lot of cherry trees which have also become another attraction today. After World War II, the castle ruins were turned into the Takada Park equipped with public facilities. In more recent years, Joetsu City is tying to balance relaxation and sites of the ruins for the park, renaming it the Takada Castle Site Park in 2020.

The drawing when the castle was used for the Japanese Army *( from the signboard at the site)*

The ruins of the gate for the headquarters for the 13th Division of the Japanese Army

The monument of the Takada Castle Site Park

The remaining earthen walls of the Main Enclosure and the rebuilt Three-Story Turret on them

My Impression

I was surprised to see the width of the Outer Moat and learned that it was originally wider. It was certainly possible to absorb damage from a gun attack of enemies at that time. Even without stone walls and a Main Tower, it remains strong to this day. You can enjoy seeing the castle as well as cherry blossoms in spring, lotus flowers in summer, autumn leaves in fall, and snow in winter in the park. If you have time, I recommend walking around the city area near Takada Station, the former castle town. The formation of the town still remains with the rare covered alleys called Gangi to prevent snow from entering.

A view of the illuminated cherry blossoms at *the Takada Castle Site Park* *(licensed by Cp9asngf via Wikimedia Commons)*

A view of the lotus flowers *at the Takada Castle Site Park* *(taken by v-pro from photoAC)*

The Gangi covered alleys which can be seen in the city area

How to get There

車で行く場合：
上信越自動車道上越高田ICから約１０分かかります。城跡にいくつか駐車場があります。
電車の場合は、えちごトキめき鉄道高田駅から歩いて約２０分かかります。
東京から高田駅まで：北陸新幹線に乗り、上越妙高駅でえちごトキめき鉄道に乗り換えてください。

Links and References

・Takada Castle Site Park, Joetsu Tourism Convention Association

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

132.高田城　その３

夜桜と蓮花と城跡の公園

その後

明治維新後、高田城は日本陸軍の用地として使われました。御殿と三階櫓は残念ながら1870年に燃えてしまいます。他の全ての城の建物も撤去されました。それと同じ時期に、地元の人々は蓮を植え始めました。元武士だった人たちを含め、生活の資とするためです。この蓮は今では市の観光資源になっています。1908年、日本陸軍の第１３師団司令部が城の本丸に設置されました。軍はほとんどの土塁を壊し、多くの堀を埋めました。その代わりに多くの桜の木が植えられ、これも今日もう一つの観光資源となっています。第二次世界大戦後、城跡は高田公園となり、公的施設が建てられました。最近、上越市はレクレーションのためと、城跡としての公園とのバランスを取るべく、2020年に高田城址公園と名前を改めました。

私の感想

外堀がこんなにも広いことに驚き、元はもっと広かったことを知ってまた驚きました。その当時、敵が鉄砲で攻撃してきたとしても、そのダメージを十分に吸収することが可能だったでしょう。石垣や天守がなかったとしても、その強さを今に残しているのです。城として見物することのみならず、春には桜、夏には蓮の花、秋には紅葉、冬には雪と一緒に楽しむことができる場所です。もし時間があれば、昔城下町であった、高田駅近くの市街地を歩いてみることをお勧めします。城下町の構造がそのまま残っていて、雪が入り込むのを防ぐ雁木と呼ばれる庇で覆われた珍しい通路も見ることができます。

高田城址公園の夜桜 *(licensed by Cp9asngf via Wikimedia Commons)*

高田城址公園の蓮の花 *(taken by v-pro from photoAC)*

ここに行くには

リンク、参考情報

・高田城址公園、上越観光ナビ
・「よみがえる日本の城１４」学研
・「日本の城改訂版第５５号」デアゴスティーニジャパン
・「高田公園の名称変更に関する市民説明会」資料、上越市

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

32.Kasugayama Castle Part3

The nature of the lords really reflected those of their castles.

Later History

The ruins of Kasugayama Castle were abandoned for a long time. In 1901, the Kasugayama Shrine was founded at the mid slope of the mountain. Since then, cedar trees were planted to cover the mountain. However, Joetsu City, who owns the ruins, is now cutting them down for visitors to see the enclosures on the mountain clearly. The excavation has just begun to reveal the castle. The ruins have been designated as a National Historic Site since 1935.

The picture of the ruins of Kasugayama Castle about 100 years ago *(Joetsu City Buried Cultural Property Center)*

The main portion of the castle from the Koguchi entrance at the Back Route

My Impression

When I visited the ruins of Kasugayama Castle, I felt that this castle is more open than other mountain castles such as the Hojo Clan’s. It could be because the castle had few defensive structures like earthen walls and dry moats for its so many enclosures. I think this comes from Kenshin Uesugi’s personality. He always fought outside of the castle and was never besieged. The castle was not actually attacked by enemies at all in Kenshin’s period. I have also been reminded that the nature of the lords really reflected those of their castles.

The guide map of the castle ruins ( from the signboard at the site)

Overlooking the enclosures from the Main Enclosure

Kenshin Uesugi on a horse drawn by the folding screen drawing of the Kawanakajima Battle

How to get There

If you want to visit there by car:
It is about 10 minutes away from Joetsu IC on Hokuriku Expressway.
The ruins offer several parking lots.
Or it takes about 30 minutes walking from Kasugayama Station on the Echigo Tokimeki Railway.
From Tokyo to Kasugayama Station: Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen Super Express and transfer at Joetsu-Myoko Station to the Echigo Tokimeki Railway.

The castle ruins which can be seen on the way from Kasugayama Station

Links and References

・Kasugayama Castle, Joetsu Tourism Convention Association

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