私の感想～My Impression – ページ 62 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

136.Torigoe Castle Part3

I am thankful to live in the safety of modern Japan.

Later History

The ruins of Torigoe Castle had been abandoned for a long time after the Ikko uprising was defeated. The excavation was conducted between 1977 and 2002, while the ruins were designated as a National Historic Site in 1985. The development as a historical park and the restoration of some castle structures were also done between 1991 and 2002. That’s why we can see the ruins as the monument of the Kaga Ikko uprising.

The restored Masugata-mon Gate (front) and Main Enclosure Gate (back)

The ruins of the lookout tower beside the Main Enclosure Gate, now used as the observation platform

the ruins of buildings in the Main Enclosure

My Impression

When I visited Torigoe Castle Ruins, I thought the castle was exactly like those that the warlords built. This proves the Kaga Ikko uprising really had religious, political and even military power. In other words, people at that time needed to protect themselves. People in the present time usually live safely without these concerns, at least in Japan. I learned that this is partly due to the precious sacrifice of the Ikko uprising people. I also recommend seeing the ruins as a good example of mountain castles during the Sengoku Period.

The inside of Masugata, a square space for defense

The dry moat between the Main Enclosure and Rear Second Enclosure

The Second Enclosure, which protected the south of the Main Enclosure

How to get There

I recommend using a car when you visit the ruins.
It is about a 30-minute drive away from Komatsu IC on the Hokuriku Expressway. You can park at the parking lot located near the top of the mountain.
If you want to use public transportation, you can take the Hokutetsu-Kaga Bus on the Mugiguchi Line from Komatus Station and get off at the Misaka bus stop. It takes about 30 minutes on foot from the bus stop to get there.
To get to Komatsu Station from Tokyo: Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen super express, transfer to the limited express on the Hokuriku Line at Kanazawa Station.
From Osaka: Take the Thunderbird limited express

The parking lot seen from the Rear Second Enclosure

The Rear Second Enclosure seen from the parking lot

That’s all. Thank you.
Back to “Torigoe Castle Part1”
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136.鳥越城　その3

現代の日本で生きることに感謝します。

その後

鳥越城跡は、一向一揆が壊滅した後は長い間放置されていました。発掘調査が行われたのは1997年から2002年までで、その間の1985年には国の史跡に指定されました。歴史公園としての整備といくつかの城の建物の復元も、1991年から2002年の間に行われました。そのおかげで、この城跡を加賀一向一揆の記念碑として今日見学できるのです。

私の感想

私が鳥越城跡を訪れたとき、この城はまるで戦国大名が作った城と全く同じであると思いました。このことが、加賀一向一揆が本当に宗教的、政治的、そして軍事的な力さえ持っていたことを示しているのでしょう。別の言い方をすれば、その当時の人々は、自らを守る必要があったのです。少なくとも日本においては、現在生きている人たちは通常何の心配もなしに安全に過ごすことができます。これは、一部には一向一揆の人たちの尊い犠牲があったからだということを学びました。それだけでなく、この城跡は戦国時代の一般的な山城を学ぶにもよい教材になると思います。

ここに行くには

この城跡を訪れるには、車を使うことをお勧めします。
北陸自動車道の小松ICから約３０分かかります。
山の頂上近くの駐車場に車を停めることができます。
公共交通機関を使う場合は、小松駅から北鉄加賀バスの麦口線に乗り、三坂バス停で降りてください。バス停から歩いて約３０分かかります。
東京から小松駅まで：北陸新幹線に乗り、金沢駅で北陸線の特急に乗り換えてください。
大阪からは、特急サンダーバード号に乗ってください。

リンク、参考情報

・史跡鳥越城跡附二曲城跡、白山市
・鳥越城跡、白山市公式観光サイト
・「戦国時代と一向一揆／竹間芳明著」日本史史料研究会ブックス
・「逆説の日本史１０　戦国覇王編／井沢元彦著」小学館
・「はくさん　第１２巻４号」石川県白山自然保護センター

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

36.Maruoka Castle Part3

The Main Tower survived two crises.

Later History

After the Meiji Restoration, Maruoka Castle was abandoned. All the buildings of the castle including the Main Tower were sold. However, the tower was priced very low because it couldn’t be used for general offices or residences. It was impossible to scrap or move the tower for a low price. The buyer was not able to do anything to the tower, while the other buildings were moved or demolished. All of the water moats were also filled to create more land space in the city. The owners of the tower finally donated it to the officials in 1901. That’s why only the Main Tower remains now.

The miniature model of Maruoka Castle, all the buildings of the castle except for the Main Tower were sold and demolished.

In 1948, The Main Tower and its stone wall base collapsed due to the Fukui Earthquake. However, people in this area restored the tower in 1955 to almost the same condition as the original one. This was because they researched the details of the tower when it was repaired 8 years before the earthquake. They used about 70% of the original main materials to restore it. Such a method is usually used to repair other remaining castle buildings in Japan. That means the Main Tower of Maruoka Castle is valuable like it had been before the earthquake.

The stone grampuses which fell from the roof when the earthquake happened

My Impression

If you have time after visiting the inside of the Main Tower of Maruoka Castle, how about walking around the castle along the trace of the Inner Moat? The moat was turned into city area, but the outer edge of the moat remains as a road. If you walk along the road, you can look up a beautiful view of the Main Tower on the hill. I was honestly envious of the people who can see the view every day when I walked. In fact, Sakai City is considering restoring part of the Inner Moat and make a park inside it over the next 50 years to make the castle more attractive.

The Main Tower of Maruoka Castle seen from the road, former Inner Moat

The trace of the Inner Moat on the present road

Another photo from a different point on the road

How to get There

If you want to visit there by car:
It is about 10 minutes away from Maruoka IC on Hokuriku Expressway.
The castle park offers a parking lot.
By public transportation, take the bus bound for Eiheiji-eki-mae from JR Maruoka Station and get off at the Maruoka Bus Terminal bus stop. It takes about 5 minutes to get there on foot.
To get to Maruoka Station from Tokyo: Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen super express, transfer to the Hokuriku Line at Kanazawa Station.
From Osaka: Take the Thunderbird limited express and transfer to a local train on the Hokuriku Line at Fukui Station.

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