特徴～Features – ページ 97 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

156.Kamaha Castle Part2

Ruins in the animal kingdom now

Features

Several Routes to Castle Ruins

Today, visiting the ruins of Kamaha Castle needs climbing up the mountain. There are several routes for visiting them. Probably the popular ones are from the old Banba Station on the old Nakasendo Road, because they reach the front side of the castle. You have to walk on the routes for about 1 hour, but many signs will lead you along the way. From the station, you will first go through the underpasses of Hikone44 or 43 of the Meshin Expressway. You have to open and close the front wire netting gate in order to shut animals outside it when you pass. The inside of the gate is basically the animal kingdom now. the route from Hikone44 is relatively smooth but longer, and the one from Hikone43 is shorter but comparatively steeper. The route from Hikone43 seemed to be the original Main Route.

The map around the castle

The old Banba Station on the old Nakasendo Road

A distant view of the mountain where the castle was built

The underpass of Hikone44 of the Meshin Expressway

The underpass of Hikone43 of the Meshin Expressway

If you choose the route from Hikone44, the first part of your visit is completely a trek. You will go on the trail along natural valleys and ridges for over 30 minutes. The signs will show you when you are close to the castle ruins. You will also find a bear-avoiding bell that you can ring. You may not visualize there was an advanced castle where many people usually used it over such a place.

Going on the trail from the underpass of Hikone44

Large Ditch and Stone Walls

You will first reach the Large Ditch in the northern edge of the castle. It may look like a natural valley, but, in fact, it is artificial. The enclosure behind the ditch is called the North VI.

The map around the castle

Looking up the North VI Enclosure from the Large Ditch

You can see the Large Stone Walls in the western side of the enclosure. These stone walls were made in a unique method which uses clay to fill in the gaps.

The cray between the stones can’t be seen just looking at them

Ruins of Large Turret and Entrance

Large scale earthen walls also remain on the enclosure, which supported the Large Turret in the past. A simple wooden observation platform stands there now.

The remaining earthen walls of the enclosure

Looking down the Large Ditch from the observation platform

The next part is the North V Enclosure which has the other entrance ruins with stone steps and stone mound than those in the Main Enclosure.

The entrance ruins of the North V Enclosure

Water is supplied in the enclosure from its source somewhere

After that is the North IV Enclosure has another wooden observation platform for visitors probably because it is a good viewing spot. You can enjoy a good view of the Omi Plain beside Biwa Lake.

The observation platform in the North IV Enclosure

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

156.鎌刃城　その２

今は動物の世界となっている城跡

特徴、見どころ

城跡へのルート

現在、鎌刃城跡を訪れるには、登山の準備が必要です。城跡へはいくつかのルートがあり、もっとも一般的なのは旧中山道の番場宿から行くルートでしょう。城の正面側に至る道だからです。約１時間かけてこのルートを歩いていく必要がありますが、案内標識がたくさんあるので道に迷うことはないでしょう。宿場からは最初、名神自動車道の彦根４４番か４３番ゲートをくぐって進んでいきます（このルートも２つに分かれています）。これらのゲートを通るときにはフェンス扉を開けた後、動物が外側から侵入しないようしっかり閉める必要があります。この扉の内側は、今では基本的には動物たちの世界になっているわけです。彦根４４番からのルートは比較的緩やかですがその分長いです。彦根４３番からのルートは短い分急です。この４３番からのルートが元々の大手道だったようです。

城周辺の地図

もし彦根４４番ゲートを選んだ場合、かなりの部分はトレッキングそのものとなります。３０分以上自然の谷や峰に沿った山道を進んでいきます。案内標識が城跡まであとどのくらいの距離なのか表示してくれます。また、熊除けのためのベル（鐘）が途中にあり、自分で鳴らすことができます。このような場所にかつては先進的な城があり、多くの人々が行き交っていたとはちょと想像できません。

大堀切と大石垣

そのうちにまず、城の北端にある大堀切に到着します。一見して自然の谷のようにも思えますが、実際には人工に作られたものです。この堀切の奥にある曲輪は、北― VI（第六）曲輪と呼ばれています。

城周辺の地図

この曲輪の西側には大石垣が見られます（石垣がはっきり見えるのは隣の曲輪の側面のようですが）。この石垣は独特の方法で築かれていて、石の隙間を埋めるのに粘土が使われています。

大櫓と虎口の跡

大規模な土塁もこの曲輪に残っていて、過去には大櫓を支えていました。現在は、簡単な木組みの展望台があります。

その次の北―V（第五）曲輪には、主郭とは別に、石段と石積が残っている虎口跡があります。

そこから先の北―IV（第四）曲輪には、木組みの展望台がもう一つあります。おそらくそこが絶好のビューポイントだからでしょう。そこからは、琵琶湖沿いに広がる近江平野の景色が見えます。

「鎌刃城その３」に続きます。
「鎌刃城その１」に戻ります。

50.Hikone Castle Part3

I admire the great efforts of Hikone City.

Features

Western Enclosure, Guardian of Back Side

There are many other attractions in this castle. For example, there is the Western Enclosure in the back of the Main Enclosure. It has the remaining Western Enclosure Three-level Turret to protect the back side of the castle. There is also another large, deep ditch with a bridge over it in front of the turret like the front side. This castle was protected strictly on both sides.

The aerial photo around the castle

The Western Enclosure Three-level Turret

The interior of the third floor of the turret

Extensive Original Front Side

Also consider walking around the southwest part of the castle, on the opposite of the front entrance. You will see there is still a large area surrounded by the Middle Moat and the Inner Moat. It is very comfortable to walk along the moats looking up the Main Tower. You will see the Kyobashi-guchi-mon Gate Ruins behind the Middle Moat, the Main Gate Ruins behind the Inner Moat and so on. You can also see this area had originally been the front side of the castle against the Toyotomi Clan at Osaka Castle in this direction.

The area surrounded by the Middle Moat and the Inner Moat

The Funamachi-guchi-mon Gate Ruins, the other route over the Middle Moat

A distant view of the Western Enclosure Three-level Turret from around the Middle Moat

A distant view of the Main Tower from around the Middle Moat

Later History

After the Meiji Restoration, Hikone Castle was under the Japanese Army to be sold. When the Emperor Meiji visited Hikone in 1878, he felt sorry about the lost of the castle and ordered to preserve it. The castle was owned by the Imperial Household, followed by the Ii Clan and now Hikone City. In 1945 during World War II, the US Army was planning an air raid to Hikone in the evening, on August 15th just after the Emperor Showa declared the end of the war. The castle might have been saved by the emperors twice. Hikone City is trying to register the castle on the World Heritage List.

The Large Ditch in front of the Balance Turret

The Genkyuen, the garden for the lord at the castle site

My Impression

When I visited Hikone Castle, I was very pleased to enter not only the Main Tower, but also most of the remaining turrets. It is very rare compare to other castles. I asked an officer why they allow some visitors to enter these turrets. His answer was that because they stored all of the items in the castle buildings into the Hikone Castle Museum. I understood it and was impressed by the great efforts of the city for preserving and continuing the castle into future generations.

The interior of Western Enclosure Three-level Turret

A view of the Hikone Castle Museum from the Main Enclosure

How to get There

If you want to visit the castle by car, it is about 10 minutes away from Hikone IC on the Meshin Expressway. There are several parking lots in the castle site.
By public transportation, it takes about 15 minutes on foot from the JR Hikone Station.
To get to Hikone Station from Tokyo: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen super express and transfer to the Biwako Line at Maibara Station or Kyoto Station.

Links and References

・Hikone Castle, Visit Omi

That’s all. Thank you.
Back to “Hikone Castle Part1”
Back to “Hikone Castle Part2”