特徴～Features – ページ 69 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

74.Iwakuni Castle Part2

Let us try to look into more of the castle.

Later History

After the Meiji Restoration, the residence at the foot of the mountain was turned into the Kikko Park in 1885. Kintaikyo Bridge survived for 277 years, however it was flown out because of the flood caused by Kezia Typhoon in 1950. People in Iwakuni City restored the bridge in the original method in 1953. It was rebuilt again in 2004 due to deterioration. That’s why it still looks new. It has been designated as a National Scenic Spot since 1922.

As for Iwakuni Castle, the Main Tower on the mountain was rebuilt in 1963, but its position was moved by about 50m from the original in ordered to be more well seen from the foot with the bridge. The cable car between the foot and the top also opened in 1964 which has been boosting tourism.

The present Main Tower of Iwakuni Castle which can be seen from the foot

Features

From Kintaikyo Bridge to Rebuilt Main Tower

For visitors who visit the area around Iwakuni Castle site today, the castle itself might not be popular for them. They probably want to see and walk across Kintaikyo Bridge first. They can also ride a cable car to the top of the mountain to enjoy the great view of the area including the bridge. Visiting the rebuilt Main Tower may be their third option because they can get a better view of the bridge from the foot. However, if you try to look into more of the castle, you can find new perspectives of it.

A view of Kintaikyo bridge from the top of the mountain

After arriving at the platform of the cable car, you will find the guide plate of the two routes to the castle. The guide plate recommends taking the left road, but I suggest taking the right road. This is because the path on the right leads you the front side of the castle. You will see the edge of the remaining stone walls with triangular stones on the right side of the trail. You can also see the great stone walls of the Second Enclosure on the left. As you go further, the Barbican Enclosure overhangs in front of you. It has a defensive square space called Masugata inside which was the Main Gate of the castle. The inside of the Gate Ruins is the Second Enclosure which is used as a modern rock garden, modified in the present time.

The map around the castle

The guide plate recommends the left wide road

The stone walls below the Second Enclosure

The stone walls of the Barbican Enclosure overhangs

Rebuilt Main Tower and Original Main Tower Base

The Main Enclosure is next to the Second Enclosure in the north. The restored Main Tower stands out in front of you. The tower probably has a similar appearance to the original one because its designer used the cross section drawing which was said to come from the original. It has four levels with the third one of which hanging out. This type of Main Towers was rare, called Nanban-zukuri or the Western Style. The tower is actually a modern building which is used as a historical museum and an observation platform. The original stone wall base for the Main Tower was also restored in the original position according to the excavation.

The Main Enclosure including the rebuilt Main Tower seen from the Second Enclosure

The explanation about the cross section drawing of the Main Tower, exhibited by Iwakuni Castle

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

74.岩国城　その２

この城のことをもって知ってみましょう。

その後

明治維新後、山麓にあった居館は1885年に吉香（きっこう）公園となりました。錦帯橋は２７７年間残りましたが、1950年のキジア台風により発生した洪水のために流されてしまいました。岩国市の人たちは、1953年に元の工法で橋を復元しました。老朽化のため、2004年には再度再築されました。そのためか橋はまだ新しいように見えます。1922年以来、国の名勝に指定されています。

岩国城に関しては、1963年に山の上の天守が再建されました。しかし、山麓から錦帯橋とともにもっとよく見えるよう、元あった位置より約５０ｍ移動した場所に建てられました。1964年には山麓と山頂を結ぶロープウェイが開業し、観光客が多く訪れるようになりました。

特徴、見どころ

錦帯橋から再建天守へ

現在、岩国城周辺を訪れるビジターにとっては、城そのものにはあまり興味はないかもしれません。まず最初には、錦帯橋を眺めて歩いて渡ってみたいでしょう。また、ロープウェイに乗って山の頂上まで行き、錦帯橋を含む周辺の素晴らしい景色を眺めてみたいでしょう。再建された天守に行ってみるのは、３番目になってしまうでしょうか。麓から見る錦帯橋の景色の引き立て役といった感じです。しかし、この城のことをもっと知ってみると、新たな一面を発見できると思います。

ロープウェイの山頂駅から降りた後は、城へ向かう２つのルートの案内板が目に入ります。それによれば、左側の道に行くよう促されていますが、実は右の方がおすすめです。それは、右の道に行けば、城の正面の方に出られるからです。道の右側には石垣の端の部分が、三角形の石の列となって並んでいるのが見えます。左側には、二の丸の立派な石垣も見えます。更に進んでいくと、出丸が前面にはみ出しています。ここには、桝形と呼ばれる四角い防御のための空間が内側にあり、そこが城の大手門となっていました。その門跡の内側が二の丸となっていますが、内部は今では改変され現代風のロックガーデンになっています。

城周辺の地図

再建天守とオリジナルの天守台

本丸は、二の丸の北隣にあります。再建された天守が眼前に立ちはだかってとても目立ちます。この天守のデザインは、オリジナルのものを描いたと言われる断面図を元に作られているので、恐らく外観はオリジナルに近いはずです。この天守は４層ですが、三階がはみ出しています。こういったタイプの天守は珍しく、南蛮造りと呼ばれています。実際には現代的なビルディングで、内部は歴史博物館や展望台として使われています。オリジナルの天守台も発掘調査をもとに、元の位置に復元されています。

「岩国城その３」に続きます。
「岩国城その１」に戻ります。

170.Hamada Castle Part3

Castles look very different depending on people’s perspectives.

Features for History Fans

From Approach Entrance to Nakanomon Gate Ruins

For serious history fans, consider getting back to the starting point of the shrine approach. Let us seek together the original route to the Nakanomon Gate Ruins which we talked about above. The foot had the Main Hall and warriors’ houses and turned into residential areas, so you will need to follow narrow paths among the modern houses. Then the large stone walls of the gate will suddenly appear. These walls are original and they look so great, but are partially covered with wiring nets to prevent them from collapsing.

The map around the casltle, the red broken line is the estimated original route

The shrine approach on the left and the residential area on the right

The narrow path among the residential area

the stone walls of the gate suddenly appears

The stone walls are partially covered with wiring nets

After passing the gate ruins, you will go on a promenade along the valley probably similar to the original route while seeing old stone walls around. You will eventually reach the mid slope beside the shrine.

The promenade which is nearly on the original route

You can see some old stone walls beside the promenade

Going through Third and Second Enclosures

Let us pass the gate building and turn left again, but make sure not to go straight, instead, turn right this time. You can begin now to enter the two tiers of enclosures, surrounded by stone walls, which are original. However, these walls were piled up again during the Showa Era. It was said that the stones for the walls had collapsed before the repair. The lower tier is the Third Enclosure, and the upper is the Second Enclosure. The Second Gate was built between them. A square defensive space called Masugata which was also behind the gate where you can still see the same shape. You will finally reach the Main Enclosure as well from the Second Enclosure passing by the First Gate Ruins.

The restored image by CG of the Second Gate, from the signboard at the site

The square defensive space behind the gate

The ruins of the First Gate to the Main Enclosure

My Impression

After visiting the ruins of Hamada Castle, I realized that people would have different impressions from the same place depending on their purposes such as relaxing or learning about history. I think this idea was similar to the people in the past. Records show that after the warriors in Hamada Castle had gone, children played in the remaining Main Tower until it finally collapsed during the earthquake. There were also very different impressions about the castle between the warriors (the high class) and local people (the low class).

The area around the Main Tower base ruins

The restored image by CG of the Main Enclosure, from the signboard at the site

How to get There

If you want to visit Hamada Castle Ruins by car, it is about a 15-minute drive away from Hamada IC on the Chugoku Expressway. There are parking lots in the western and southern sides of the ruins.
By public transportation, it takes about 20 minutes on foot from JR Hamada Station to get there.
If you go there from Tokyo or Osaka, I recommend traveling by plane, using an express bus or combining them with trains.

The parking lot in the western side of the ruins

That’s all. Thank you.
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