特徴～Features – ページ 92 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

49.Odani Castle Part2

Continuous enclosures on the ridge

Features

Large Main Portion

Today, if you are close to the ruins of Odani Castle, you will see Odaniyama-Mountain the castle was built is still standing out. You will also see another mountain called Toragozeyama Nobunaga used as his battle castle in front of Odaniyama-Mountain. Many people gather at the foot of Odaniyama-Mountain for visiting the ruins or hiking. If you drive to the ruins, you can choose your parking spot at the foot or the mid slope. In the case of parking at the mid slope, you can access the main portion of the castle near the parking lot. However, this portion is large, steep and rough on the mountain, so it is recommended to wear trekking boots.

Odaniyama-Mountain on the right and Toragozeyama-Mountain on the left

The road to the main portion from the parking lot at the mid slope

Imagine how it looked by reading signboard

There are no castle buildings and few remaining stone walls on the foundations made of soil. This is because these items were taken as waste materials for other castles’ constructions, and it took a long time after the castle was abandoned. However, you can still see many enclosures on the ridge of the mountain as you climb up. Some signboards explain what each enclosure was called, used for, and looked like.

The imaginary of *the Guardhouse Ruins*, from the signboard at the site

Toragozeyama Mountain from the view spot at the mid slope

The imaginary of the Teahouse Ruins, from the signboard at the site

The imaginary of the Stable Ruins, from the signboard at the site

The imaginary of the Cherry Riding Ground Ruins, from the signboard at the site

Large Hall Nagamasa where lived and Main Enclosure where he fought

Ohiroma or the Large Hall Enclosure is the largest one in the castle. Its entrance is Korogane-mon Gate Ruins which have some stone steps and stone walls. There were the Main Halls for the lord and relatives. A lot of household items, such as earthen cups, silver cups, coins, and mirrors were unearthed by the excavation. You can also enjoy a good view from there, so Nagamawa and his family might usually have lived in the enclosure.

The map around the castle

A view from the Cherry Riding Ground Ruins nearby

The next is the Main Enclosure where Nagamasa fought against Nobunaga. It has two tiers with some remaining stone walls. It is speculated that it had a building like the Main Tower. Nagamasa sallied out from there but died in the Akao Residence Ruins nearby.

The remaining stone walls of the Main Enclosure

The imaginary of the Main Enclosure, from the signboard at the site

You will see the Large Ditch behind the Main Enclosure to divide the castle into the front and back part. This ditch might have protected the enclosure from Nobunaga’s attack from the back part for a while.

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

49.小谷城　その２

峰上に延々と続く曲輪群

特徴、見どころ

城の中心部分だけでも広大

現在、小谷城跡の方に近づいていくと、城が築かれていた、今でもとても存在感がある小谷山が見えてきます。その小谷山の手前の方には、信長が本陣として使った山（虎御前山）も見えます。小谷山の麓には、多くの人たちが城跡を訪れたり、ハイキングを楽しむために集まっています。もし車で城跡を訪れるのでしたら、麓にある駐車場か、中腹にある駐車場どちらにも止めることができます（中腹への道は狭いので気をつけてください）。中腹の駐車場に停めた場合は、すぐ近くが城の中心部分となります。しかし、その中心部分だけでも広大で、傾斜が急で険しい部分もあるので、トレッキング用の靴を履いていくことをお勧めします。

説明板を見ながら当時の姿を想像

そこには城の建物は残っていませんし、土造りの土台の上にもあまり石垣は残っていません。なぜならこれらは他の城の建築資材として持ち去られてしまったからです。そして、城が廃城となってから長い年月が経過しているという理由もあります。それでも、山の峰上を登っていくにつれ、多くの曲輪があることは今でもわかります。要所要所に説明板があり、それぞれの曲輪が何と呼ばれ、何のために使われ、どのような姿をしていたのかがわかります。

長政が住んていた大広間、戦った本丸

大広間は城では一番大きな曲輪です。その入口は、黒金門（くろがねもん）跡で石段や石垣が残っています。曲輪の中には城主や親族のための御殿がありました。陶器、銀製の器、銭貨、鏡などの多くの日用品が発掘により見つかりました。周辺からの眺めもよく、長政やその家族が日常的にそこに住んでいたことが考えられます。

城周辺の地図

次は本丸で、ここで長政が信長の軍と戦いました。本丸は２段構成になっていて石垣もいくらか残っています。天守のような建物もあったのではないかと推定されています。長政はここから打って出たのですが、結局近くにある赤尾屋敷で亡くなってしまいました。

本丸の裏手には大堀切があり、城を前部と後部に分かっています。この堀切があったから、信長軍の後方（秀吉が占領した京極丸）からの攻撃があっても、（長政がいた）本丸はしばらく持ちこたえられたのかもしれません。

「小谷城その３」に続きます。
「小谷城その１」に戻ります。

47.Iga-Ueno Castle Part3

The castle came back in the Showa Era.

Features

Looking up High Stone Walls

You can also look up these great stone walls by walking the street along the Western Inner Moat, outside the park. The length of the stone walls is nearly 250m.

The map around the castle

The high stone walls are coming into view.

The line of them is bent elaborately in several points so that defenders could make a side counterattack against enemies if they attack the castle.

The line of the stone walls is bent elaborately.

The corners of the walls are piled using processed rectangular stones alternated in a method called Sangi-zumi. Overall, these stone walls look durable and beautiful.

The corner piled in the Sangi-zumi method looks great.

Later History

After the Meiji Restoration, Iga-Ueno Castle was abandoned and the castle buildings were demolished. The center of the castle was turned into a park. In 1935, a native politician, Katsu Kawasaki donated the third wooden Main Tower on the stone wall base for the second Main Tower which Takatora Todo tried to build. Since then, people still call this site Iga-Ueno Castle probably because the Main Tower is intact. As for the original castle ruins, they were designated as a National Historic Site in 1967.

A picture of Katsu Kawasaki (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

My Impression

I was surprised to see many castles Takatora built or gave design advice on in western Japan, including the rebuilt Osaka Castle. He was involved in the creation of the No.1 and No.2 highest. The stone walls of Iga-Ueno Castle are still some of the highest ones in Japan and a great place to see. However, let me say again that you must be careful not to step off of the top of the high stone walls.

How to get There

If you want to visit the castle by car, it is about a 10-minute drive away from Nakase IC or Ueno IC on the Meihan Expressway. There is a parking lot for visitors in the park.
If you want to use public transportation, It takes about 10 minutes on foot from Ueno-shi Station on Iga Railway to get there. The station nicknames itself Ninja City Station and you can get the unique painted train called the Ninja Train.
To get to Ueno-shi Station from Tokyo: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen super express, transfer to the Kintetsu-Nagoya Line on Kintetsu Railway at Nagoya Station, transfer to the Kintetsu-Osaka Line at Ise-Nakagawa Station, and transfer to the Iga Line on Iga Railway at Iga-Kanbe Station.

Links and References

・Iga Ueno Castle, Iga Cultural Industry Association

That’s all. Thank you.
Back to “Iga-Ueno Castle Part1”
Back to “Iga-Ueno Castle Part2”