私の感想～My Impression – ページ 66 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

125.Kozukue Castle Part3

The ruins have become popular since the construction of the road.

Features

Parted Barbican

In fact, the ruins were partly destroyed and divided by the Daisan-Keihin Road. You can look at one of the barbicans over the road from the entrance of the Western Enclosure. You will have to go through the tunnel under the road to get there. The top of it is one of Fujizuka Mounds, called Fuji-sengen, made for worshiping Mt. Fuji since the Edo Period. It might had been a turret base before that. When you walk out of the ruins, you will get back to the city area right away.

The map around the castle

The Daisan-Keihin Road parting the ruins

Later History

After Kozukue Castle was abandoned, the local people have called the ruins Shiroyama or the Castle Mountain. The studies about the castle started as early as in the Edo Period. However, the ruins ironically became popular as a historic site since they were partly destroyed by the construction of the Daisan-keihin Road in 1963. Through that, Yokohama City launched the Kozukue Castle Ruins Forest to preserve them in 1977. People are now interested in what the castle was like in the past.

The ruins of Kozukue Castle and Daisan-Keihin Road

My Impression

I think Kozukue Castle is a good example of how to protect a castle with few defenders. I guess if a battle happened at Kozukue Castle when Hideyoshi invaded, this castle could survive at least over one night unlike Yamanaka Castle and Hachioji Castle.

The large dry moat in front of the Western Enclosure

How to get There

I recommend using a train when you visit the ruins because the park has no parking lot.
It takes about 15 minutes on foot from JR Kozukue Station on the Yokohama Line.

The castle ruins seen from the platform of Kozukue Station

The Yokohama-Kamiasao Road (Kanagawa Prefectural Road 12) goes near the station, so turn right at the Kozukue Station Intersection and go along the street. Then, turn right at the Kozukuetsuji Intersection.

Turn right at the Kozukuetsuji Intersection

Go along the street again, cross the railway and turn left at the first intersection.

Go along the street in the residential area, and when you find the signpost for the ruins on the utility pole on the right, turn right. You will eventually arrive at the entrance of the ruins.

Turn right when you find the signpost on the utility pole (inside the red circle)

That’s all. Thank you.
Back to “Kozukue Castle Part1”
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125.小机城　その３

この城跡は道路工事があってから有名になりました。

特徴、見どころ

分断されている出丸

実は、この城跡は一部分、第三京浜道路によって破壊され、分断されています。西ノ曲輪の入口近くからは、その道路越しに出丸のうちの一つが見えます。そこに行くには、道路下のトンネルを通る必要があります。出丸の頂上は、富士仙元（ふじせんげん）という富士塚となっていて、江戸時代に富士山を信仰するために作られました。それ以前は、櫓台だったのかもしれません。城跡から一歩外に出ると、すぐに元の市街地に戻ります。

城周辺の地図

その後

小机城が廃城となった後、地元の人たちは、この城跡を城山と呼んできました。この城についての研究は、早くも江戸時代に始まりました。しかし、この城跡が史跡として認知されるようになったのは、皮肉にも1963年に第三京浜道路の建設により、その一部が破壊されたときからなのです。それをきっかけに、横浜市は1977年に小机城址市民の森を設立し、城跡を保護することにしました。現在、城が当時はどのような姿だったのか関心が持たれています。

私の感想

小机城は、少ない兵力でどのように城を守るかがわかる、よい事例だと思います。もし秀吉が攻めてきたときに小机城で戦いが起こっていたならば、山中城や八王子城のように一日で落城することはなかったと思うのです。

ここに行くには

公園には駐車場がないので、城跡を訪れる際は電車を使われることをお勧めします。
ＪＲ横浜線の小机駅から歩いて約１５分かかります。

横浜上麻生道路（神奈川県道１２号線）が駅の近くを通っています。小机駅前交差点を右に曲がり、通りをまっすぐ進んでください。そして、小机辻交差点を右に曲がります。

再びまっすぐ進み、踏切を渡り、そこから最初の交差点を左に曲がってください。

住宅街の道路を進み、右側の電柱に城跡への道しるべが見える所で右に曲がります。そのうちに城跡の入口に到着します。

リンク、参考情報

・小机城址ガイドマップ、港北観光協会
・「歴史群像１４９号、戦国の城　武蔵小机城」学研
・「日本の城改訂版第１２６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。
「小机城その１」に戻ります。
「小机城その２」に戻ります。

84.Kochi Castle Part3

Why would Kochi Castle maintain so many original buildings?

Features

Interior of Main Tower

The first floor of the tower has some equipment for defense, such as machicolations and loopholes for guns. In addition, there are also iron spikes outside the floor to prevent enemies from climbing the tower, which is the only remaining example in Japan.

On the second floor, you can see lot of exhibitions about the castle like a miniature model.

The third floor is basically the attic of the hip-and-gable roof, but it has windows and space inside the roof for defenders who could counter attackers.

On the fourth floor, you can see one of the bronze grampuses on the roof close by through the window.

The bronze grampuses seen through the window

The fifth floor is a very dark attic, by contrast, the top floor is open and bright where you can enjoy a great view of the castle and city to all directions. You can also walk around the veranda (another steel handrail was added for safety and preservation) like the lord of the castle used to do.

Later History

After the Meiji Restoration, Kochi Castle was turned into Kochi Park. All the buildings in the Second and Third Enclosures were demolished while the buildings in the Main Enclosure and a few others remain. All the 15 remaining castle buildings have been designated as Important Cultural Properties since 1950. The castle also became a National Historic Site in 1959.

My Impression

When I visited Kochi Castle for the first time many years ago, I misunderstood the reason for the small Main Hall in the Main Enclosure. I thought it was because Japanese people in the past were shorter and smaller than now. In my recent second visit, I understood its real reason. I guess if the hall was very large, it might have been demolished like the hall in the Second Enclosure when the castle once became the park. If it is true, fortune is unpredictable and changeable.

The interior of the Main Hall of the Main Enclsosure

How to get There

If you want to visit there by car:
It is about 15 minutes away from Kochi IC on Kochi Expressway.
There are several parking lots around the castle such as the Kochi Park Parking Lot.
By public transportation, take the Tosaden Bus from JR Kochi Station and get off at the Kochijo-mae bus stop.
If you go there from Tokyo or Osaka, I recommend traveling by plane or using an express bus.

Links and References

・Kochi Castle Pamphlets

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