私の感想～My Impression – ページ 16 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

56.Takeda Castle Part3

I can’t believe the stone walls of Takeda Castle have been left intact for over 400 years since the it was abandoned. Although they have been often repaired and maintained. I still can’t understand why they have been intact for so long.

Features

From Center of Castle to Southern Ridge

The western ridge from the center, called Hanayashiki or the Flower Residence Enclosure, does not usually not allow visitors to enter because of its preservation and the safety of visitors. The enclosure is built on the steeper ridge than the others, which is said to be built to protect the back route of the castle.

The map around the castle

Therefore, you will go on the route to the southern ridge which has the narrow Southern Second Enclosure and the large Minami-Senjo or the Southern 1,000 mat Enclosure, similar to the northern ridge. If you look back to the center of the castle, you can see many great stone walls covering the top of the mountain. The view of the area around the mountain is magnificent.

A view of the center from the Southern Second Enclosure

The return path goes from the edge of the ridge, which might have been the other entrance of the castle. You will finally return to the paved path which you have passed.

The exit from the Minami-senjo Enclosure

A view of the same place above from the outside

You have returned to the paved path which you had passed.

Later History

Takeda Castle was abandoned and all the castle buildings were demolished in the early Edo Period. However, the stone walls of the castle were left as there were, for some reasons. In other cases of abolished castles, their stone walls were also destroyed. The remaining stone walls of Takeda Castle may have been a miracle. The castle ruins were designated as a National Historic Site in 1943. Since then the ruins were sometimes used as the locations of historical movies that feature the intact stone walls of the castle. In 2007, a photographer, posted his photo of the Takeda Castle in the Sky, which won an award. This made the castle famous and the number of the visitors skyrocketed.

*Intentionally broken stone walls of Iwakuni Castle on the mountain*

*The stone walls of Hizen-Nagoya Castle being destroyed like a V letter*

*The ruins of Suzume-mon Gate* of Uda-Matsuyama Castle, after its stone walls were completely destroyed

My Impression

Three things surprised me about the great stone walls of Takeda Castle three times. First, I was simply impressed to see the stone walls on the high mountain. I was wondering how and why the builders built them on such a steep place. I learned that the value of Takeda Castle for the rulers and what the builder, Masahiro Saimura did in the castle are parts of the answer. Secondly, I heard that local people make great efforts on maintaining the stone walls to preserve them and make sure visitors visit them safely. I also think the original layout of the castle even now helps visitors walk smoothly in the castle ruins. Finally, I can’t believe the stone walls have been left intact for over 400 years since the castle was abandoned. As far as I know, there is no other example of stone walls which are the same or similar to Takeda Castle. Although the stone walls have been often repaired and maintained. I still can’t understand why they have been intact for so long.

Unlike the Three castles which were abandoned in the seme period, the stone walls of Takeda Castle remain intact

How to get There

If you want to get there by car, it is about 10 minutes from Wadayama IC on the Kitakinki-Toyooka Expressway. There is a parking lot at the tourist facility halfway up the mountain.
By public transportation, you can take the Tenku-bus from JR Takeda Station and get off at the final bus stop, Takeda-jo. The stop is over 1km away from the entrance of the castle ruins. Or it takes about 40 minutes on foot from the station to the entrance.
From Tokyo or Osaka to Takeda Station: take the Sanyo Shinkansen super express and transfer to the Bantan Line at Himeji Station.

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

56.竹田城　その３

廃城となって４００年以上も経つのに、石垣がそのままのごとく残っていることがいまだに信じられません。頻繁に修繕され維持されているにしても、こんなに長い間石垣だけが残っている理由が見つけられないでいます。

特徴、見どころ

城の中心部から南峰へ

「花屋敷」と呼ばれる中心部から西の峰上にある曲輪には、遺跡の保存や安全確保の観点から、通常立ち入ることができません。この曲輪は他の部分よりも急な峰上に築かれていて、城の搦手道を防衛するために設けられたと言われています。

城周辺の地図

よって、見学路は南峰の方に行き、狭い南二の丸と大きな南千畳に入っていきます。この構成は北峰と似ています。そこから城の中心部分の方を振り返ってみると、山頂が全て素晴らしい石垣に覆われているのが見えてとても良い景色です。山の周りの眺めも圧巻です。

帰り道は南峰の端の方から出ていて、ここも城の出入口であったようです。そして、最初に通ってきた舗装路に戻っていきます。

その後

江戸時代初期には竹田城は廃城となり、城の全ての建物は撤去されました。ところが、城の石垣はなぜかそのまま残りました。同時期に廃城となった他の城では、石垣も破壊されています（幕府に反抗しようとする者に再利用されないためです）。竹田城に石垣が残ったことは奇跡なのかもしれません。城跡は、1943年に国の史跡に指定されました。それ以来、この現役さながらの石垣を生かし、映画のロケ地に使われたりしました。そして2007年に、ある写真家が天空の竹田城の作品を発表し受賞してからは、城そのものも有名になりビジターの数は急増しました。

私の感想

私は、竹田城のすばらしい石垣に３回驚かされました。１回目は単純に高い山の上にある石垣が印象に残りました。このような険阻な場所になぜ、どうやって石垣が築かれたのだろうと考えました。天下人にとって竹田城がそれだけの価値があったことと、石垣を築いた斎村政広が行ったことを学んで、少しはわかったように思います。次に、地元の人たちが石垣を保存し且つビジターが安全に見学できるように大変な努力を払っていることも驚きでした。また、城のオリジナルの縄張りが今でもビジターが城跡の中をスムーズに歩けることに役立っているとも感じました。最後に、廃城となって４００年以上も経つのに、石垣がそのままのごとく残っていることがいまだに信じられません。私の知る限り、竹田城と同じような経緯で同じように残っている事例はないように思います。もちろん石垣は頻繁に修繕され維持されているにしても、こんなに長い間石垣だけが残っている理由が見つけられないでいます。

ここに行くには

車で行く場合：北近畿豊岡自動車道の和田山ICから約１０分のところです。山の中腹にある「山城の郷」に駐車することができます。
公共交通機関を使う場合は、ＪＲ竹田駅から天空バスに乗って、終点の竹田城バス停まで行ってください。そのバス停は、城跡の入口の約１ｋｍ手前となります。また、駅から歩く場合は約４０分かかります。
東京または大阪から竹田駅まで：山陽新幹線に乗って、姫路駅で播但線に乗り換えてください。

リンク、参考情報

・竹田城跡公式ホームページ
・「城郭研究の新展開１　但馬竹田城／城郭談話会編」戒光祥出版
・「日本の城改訂版第１０号」デアゴスティーニジャパン

これで終わります。ありがとうございました。
「竹田城その１」に戻ります。
「竹田城その２」に戻ります。

158.Fukuchiyama Castle Part3

As long as looking at the stone wall base for the Main Tower of Fukuchiyama Castle, Mitsuhide Akechi seems to have followed a policy of Nobunaga Oda’s castle constructions. That means Mitsuhide was a follower of Nobunaga.

Features

Views from Restored Main Tower

The current Main Tower is actually a restored modern building which is used as a historical museum and an observation platform, where you can learn about Mitsuhide Akechi and the history of the castle. You can also enjoy a view of the city area around the castle from the top floor. For instance, you can see the Third Enclosure which is used as the City Hall on the right and the Hoki-maru Enclosure which has become a park on the left, over the residential area of the former Second Enclosure in the west.

The map around the castle

The Third Enclosure has become the City Hall

In the northern direction, you can see the Yuragawa River and the bank along it that Mitsuhide built, and it’s called Akechi-yabu or Akechi-bush. Mitsuhide planted bamboos along the river bank to make it durable.

Only remaining building of Castle

Akagane-mon Bansho or the Guardhouse for the Bronze Gate, which is located in the Main Enclosure, is the only remaining part of the building and is one of its attractions. It had been originally built in the Second Enclosure, but was moved to the current position because the said Second enclosure was removed. In addition, the building of the Bronze Gate was moved to Shogenji Temple in the city and is used as its front gate.

The map around the castle

The Guardhouse for the Bronze Gate in the Main Enclosure

The front gate of Shogenji Temple, quoted from the Fukuchiyama City Website

Later History

After the Meiji Restoration, Fukuchiyama Castle was abandoned and most of the castle buildings including the Main Tower were demolished or moved. It is said that the 20th Infantry Regiment of the Imperial Japanese Army destroyed the Second Enclosure for the convenient of the transit between their station and maneuvering ground. On the other hand, people in Fukuchiyama wanted to restore the Main Tower as a symbol of the city for a long time. The restoration launched since 1968 when the illustration of the castle in the Edo Period was found. It is once faced with a budget problem, but it was completed in 1986 with lot of donation from the citizens, which was more than a half of the final budget.

The Second Enclosure was removed and became the city area

My Impression

One of the popular assumptions of the reason for Mitsuhide’s rebellion has been the difference of Nobunaga and Mitsuhide’s characters. It is said that Nobunaga was radical while Mitsuhide was traditional. However, as long as looking at the stone wall base for the Main Tower of Fukuchiyama Castle, Mitsuhide seems to have followed a policy of Nobunaga’s castle constructions. It refers to using anything including Buddhism items to build their castles immediately. I honestly say that the stone walls using the tomb stones looks little strange. There is no telling how people at that time felt. I think Mitsuhide was definitely a follower of Nobunaga. A new assumption recently came that Mitsuhide’s position became weak during the discussion about how Nobunaga would invade the Shikoku Region. Mitsuhide’s opinion about it was rejected and his rival, Hideyoshi’s one was taken by Nobunaga. The Honnoji Incident occurred just before the invasion would be done. I’m wondering if the real reason for Mitsuhide’s decision will be uncovered.

The joint of the newer stones on the left and the older ones on the right for the stone wall base of Fukuchiyama Castle’s Main Tower

The portrait of Nobunaga Oda, attributed to Soshu Kano, owned by Chokoji Temple, in the late 16th century (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The Portrait of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, attributed to Mitsunobu Kano, owned by Kodaiji Temple (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

How to get There

If you want to visit there by car, it is about 3 kms away from Fukuchiyama IC on the Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway. There is a parking lot beside the castle hill.
By public transportation, it takes about 15 minutes on foot to get there from JR Fukuchiyama Station.
From Tokyo to Fukuchiyama Station: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen super express and transfer to the Sanin Line at Kyoto Station.

The parking lot of the Fukuchiyama Castle Park

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