リンク、参考情報～Links and References – ページ 57 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

24.Takeda Clan Hall Part3

One of the most popular tourist spots in Yamanashi Pref.

Later History

After the Meiji Restoration, people in Yamanashi Prefecture started to honor the activities of Shingen Takeda. In addition, it was recommended to worship gods of war like Shingen in shrines after Japan’s victory in the Russo‐Japanese War in 1905. As a result, Takeda Shrine was established on the ruins of Takeda Clan Hall in 1919. The Shrine and Shingen have now become symbols of the prefecture and famous attractions for tourism.

My Impression

After I visited the ruins of Takeda Clan Hall, I understood the Takeda Clan, including Shingen, made great efforts to reinforce their home base. In fact, I think the hall was a bit small for a great warlord like Shingen. It could be because Shingen thought that a good offense is the best defense. Shingen tried to broaden his territory all through his life. I also think that the style of a castle is often reflected by the character of its founder or owner.

The statue of Shingen Takeda in front of Kofu Station *(licensed by そらみみ via Wikimedia Commons)*

The entrance of the West Enclosure of Takeda Clan Hall

How to get There

If you want to visit there by car:
It is about 30 minutes away from Kofu-showa IC on Chuo Expressway.
Takeda Shrine offers a parking lot near the shrine.
By public transportation, it takes about 30 minutes on foot or take the Yamanashi-kotsu Bus bound for Takeda-jinja (Takeda Shrine) from Kofu Station.
To get Kofu Station from Tokyo: Get the limited express Azusa or Kaiji at Shinjuku Station.

Links and References

・Visit Kofu (Official Tourism Website for Kofu City)

That’s all.
Back to “Takeda Clan Hall Part1”
Back to “Takeda Clan Hall Part2”

24.武田氏館　その３

山梨県有数の観光地

その後

明治維新後、山梨県の人たちは武田信玄の業績の顕彰を始めました。更には、1905年の日露戦争での日本の勝利の後、信玄のような軍神を祀ることが推奨されました。結果として、1919年に武田氏館跡に武田神社が創建されました。この神社と信玄は今では県のシンボルとなり、観光名所となっています。

私の感想

武田氏館跡を訪れてみて、信玄を含む武田氏は、彼らの本拠地を強化することに大変な労力を注いだことが理解できました。ただ実は、この館は信玄のような偉大な戦国大名にしてはやはり少し小さいのではないかと思います。その理由として、信玄は攻撃は最大の防御であると考えていたのではないでしょうか。信玄は彼の生涯を通じて領土を拡張しようとしました。城のスタイルは、よくその創始者や持ち主の性格を表しているとも思うのです。

甲府駅前にある武田信玄銅像 *(licensed by そらみみ via Wikimedia Commons)*

ここに行くには

車で行く場合：
中央自動車道の甲府昭和ICから約３０分かかります。
武田神社近くに駐車場があります。
公共交通機関を使う場合は、甲府駅から歩いて３０分か、武田神社行きの山梨交通バスに乗ってください。
東京から甲府駅まで：新宿駅で特急あずさ号かかいじ号に乗ってください。

リンク、参考情報

・信玄公のまち、古府を歩く（甲府市）
・「武田信玄　伝説的英雄からの脱却／笹本正治著」中公新書
・「日本の城改訂版第２０号」デアゴスティーニジャパン
・「列島縦断「幻の名城」を訪ねて／山名美和子著」集英社新書

これで終わります。
「武田氏館その１」に戻ります。
「武田氏館その２」に戻ります。

44.Nagoya Castle Part3

The present Main Tower should survive.

What will happen?

Kawamura has first applied for the demolition of the present Main Tower to the Agency for Cultural Affairs while the tower has been closed since 2018. However, the agency has not given him the approval because he hasn’t answered how the stone wall base will be preserved and what the new Main Tower will look like. Their goals are likely completely different. Unless they make a compromise, nothing may happen for a while.

The Small Main Tower (on the left) and the Large Main Tower (on the right)

The Main Tower can be seen behind the Honmaru Main Hall

My Opinion

I think Nagoya City should give up the replacement and repair the present Main Tower, because the present one has its own value. It is said that one of the reasons why the present one is made of concrete is that people believed it would never burn down in the future (the main reason was the restriction by the law at that time). A wooden Main Tower would be burned down like Shuri Castle.

*The Main Tower (on the left) and the Southwest Corner Turret (on the right)*

No matter how the wooden one resembles the original one, it is just a replica that people might be bored of soon. In addition, the more similar the replica and the original are, the less useful for general purposes and more expensive for the maintenance they are. If the city can get enough funds for the castle, it should use the money to repair remaining items such as the stone wall base and restore many other buildings that have been lost. This would make people understand what the whole castle looked like.

*The ruins of the First Front Gate at the Main Enclosure*

The old photo of *the First Front Gate at the Main Enclosure* (*licensed under Public Domain via Wikipedia Commons*)

How to get There

If you want to visit there by car:
It is about 5 minutes away from Marunouchi Exit on Nagoya Expressway Ring Route
The castle park offers parking lots.
By train, it takes about 5 minutes on foot from Shiyakusho Station on the Meijo Subway Line.
To get Shiyakusho Station from Tokyo or Osaka: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen Super Express, get off at Nagoya Station, transfer to the Higashiyama Subway Line, transfer at Sakae Station to the Meijo Subway Line.

Links and References

・Special Historic Site, Nagoya Castle

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