176.Ichinomiya Castle Part3

Local people are maintaining the ruins for visitors.

Later History

The ruins of Ichinomiya Castle were designated as a Prefectural Historic Site of Tokushima Prefecture in 1954. Since then, the local Society for the Preservation of the ruins has been developing them such as maintaining the trail and cutting the grass regularly. That’s why we can always visit the ruins in a comfortable environment. Tokushima City has also been researching the ruins since 2017. The foundations of the castle buildings were found and how the castle was developed is being revealed.

The well-developed trail
The artificial steep cliff under the primary enclosures
The stone walls of the Main Enclosure

My Impression

After visiting the three most popular castle ruins in Tokushima Prefecture, I noticed that they all once became the capital of Awa Province – Shozui Castle (up to1582), Ichinomiya Castle (from 1585 to 1586) and Tokushima Castle (from 1586). However, they also all have quite different features from each other. This is because the situation of Awa Province changed greatly in a very short time. The needs for castles also changed rapidly at that time. I recommend visiting the three castle ruins and comparing them.

Shozui Castle (and Hall) Ruins
Tokushima Castle Ruins
Ichinomiya Castle Ruins

How to get There

If you want to visit there by car:
It is about 20 minutes away from Aizumi IC on Tokushima Expressway.
You can park at the Ichinomiya Shrine or the Dainichi-ji Temple.
By public transportation, take the Tokushima Bus on the Kamiyama Line bound for Yoriinaka from JR Tokushima Station and get off at the Ichinomiya-fudasho-mae bus stop.
If you go there from Tokyo or Osaka, I recommend traveling by plane or using an express bus.

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

176.一宮城 その3

地元の人たちが観光客のために城跡を維持しています。

その後

一宮城跡は、1954年に徳島県の史跡に指定されました。それ以来、地元保勝会の人たちが、登山道を維持したり、下草を伐採したりして、城跡の整備を続けています。そのおかげで、私たちが快適な環境の下、城跡を訪れることができるのです。徳島市も、2017年から城跡の調査を行っています。城の建物の基礎部分が発見され、この城がどのように作られたかが明らかになってきています。(国の史跡にすることを目指しています。)

よく整備された登山道
主要曲輪下にある切岸
本丸の石垣

私の感想

徳島県にある3つの最も著名な城跡を訪れてみて、これら3つの城は全て一度は阿波国の中心地となっていることに気づきました。勝瑞城(1582年まで)、一宮城(1585年から1586年)、徳島城(1586年以降)といった流れです。しかしこれらの城はまたそれぞれに全く違う特徴を持っています。これはとても短い間に、阿波国の状況が大きく変わったからなのでしょう。城に対して求めるものが急激に変化したのです。これら3つの城を訪れ、比較してみることをお勧めします。

勝瑞城(館)跡
一宮城跡
徳島城跡

ここに行くには

徳島自動車道藍住ICから約20分かかります。
一宮神社に駐車できます。
公共交通機関を使う場合は、JR徳島駅から徳島バス神山線の寄井中(よりいなか)行きに乗り、一の宮札所前バス停で降りてください。
東京か大阪からでしたら、飛行機か高速バスを使われることをお勧めします。

リンク、参考情報

一宮城跡、徳島市公式観光サイト
一宮城跡国史跡推進事業、徳島市
・「三好一族と阿波の城館、図説日本の城郭シリーズ」戒光祥出版
・「日本の城改訂版第30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。
「一宮城その1」に戻ります。
「一宮城その2」に戻ります。

76.Tokushima Castle Part3

The Castle that cultivated a new culture

Later History

After the Meiji Restoration, all the buildings of Tokushima Castle excluding the Washi-no-mon Gate were eventually demolished. The gate building unfortunately burned down due to the Great Tokushima Air Raid in 1945, but was eventually restored in 1989. The Terashima-gawa River beside the castle was mostly reclaimed and converted into the railway. On the other hand, the ruins of the castle has been opened to the public since 1910. They were also designated as a National Historic Site back in 2006.

the restored Washi-no-mon Gate
The railway of Tokushima Station (licensed by Kounosu via Wikimedia Commons)
Tokushima Castle Museum like a main hall

My Impression

Even if you are planning to only see the stone walls, it is worth it. I have also learned that the castle had been changing although only the Hachisuka Clan built and maintained the castle for a long time. In addition, it was said that the famous Awa Dancing Festival in Tokushima City originated from Tokushima Castle. The founder of the castle, Iemasa Hachisuka motivated people to dance as they like to celebrate the completion of the castle. Today, The dance team continues to use the mountain to practice to this day.

The stone walls of Tokushima Castle
The Gejo Bridge the ruins of Kuro-mon Gate
The statue of Iemasa Hachisuka at the site
Awa Dancing Festival  (taken by tamuzbac from photoAC)

How to get There

If you want to visit there by car:
It is about 20 minutes away from Tokushima IC on the Tokushima Expressway.
The park offers a parking lot.
By train, it is about 15 minutes away from JR Tokushima Station on foot.
If you go there from Tokyo or Osaka, I recommend using a plane or an express bus.

Links and References

The Tokushima Castle Museum, Tokushima City

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