私の感想～My Impression – ページ 72 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

78.Marugame Castle Part3

I wish the Main Tower could get out of lonesome state.

Features

High stone walls even in Back of Castle

Going back to the Third Enclosure, you can also get out of the back entrance of the enclosure. You may be surprised to see the high stone walls again even at the back side of the castle. In fact, the present back side was the front of the castle until it was changed in 1660. As a result, the castle has been all covered with the stone walls.

The back entrance of the Third Enclosure

Finally, you can see the unique stone walls in the castle, with some natural stones that were piled up and are called Nozura-zumi, at the foot of the mountain. They are built in an older method than the others in this castle. Therefore, it is said that they might have originally been built by the Ikoma Clan, the first lord of the castle.

The stone walls piled up with natural stones at the foot of the mountain

The contrast of the different types of stone walls

Later History

After the Meiji Restoration, all the buildings except for the remaining ones such as the Main Tower and the Main Gate were demolished or burned. The Japanese Army used the castle site until World War II. The outside of the Inner Moat was turned into the city area. On the other hand, Marugame City opened a park on the top of the mountain in 1919. The Main Tower and the buildings of the Main Gate were designated as Important Cultural Properties by 1957. Marugame City always struggle to preserve the ruins such as the stone walls because they have been sometimes damaged from harsh weather. The City is also considering to restore some turrets and walls on the top of the mountain after investigation and study.

My Impression

I was really moved by the great high stone walls when I was standing in front of the castle. Views from the top of the mountain were great, too. However, I honestly felt that the Main Tower was good, but looked somehow lonesome. If some turrets and walls around the tower were restored, the castle could get its original aspect like Akashi Castle. In addition, the city is also known for Sanuki Udon noodles. There are a lot of Udon noodle restaurants around the castle. That will make your trip more comfortable.

The Sanuki-Fuji that can be seen from the Main Enclosure

The Main Tower seen from the Second Enclosure

Akashi Castle, its mud walls between the remaining turrets were recently restored

How to get There

If you want to visit there by car:
It is about 20 minutes away from Sakaide IC or Zentsuji IC on the Takamatsu Expressway. There are some parking lots in and around the park.
if you go there by train, it’s about 10 minutes walk from Marugame Station.
To get to Marugame Station from Tokyo or Osaka: Take the Tokaido or Sanyo Shinkansen super express and transfer at Okayama Station to the Seto-Ohashi Line. If you take a limited express train bound for Matsuyama or Kochi, you will directly arrive at Marugame Station. If you take a train called the Marine Liner bound for Takamatsu, you will need to transfer again at Sakaide Station to the Yosan Line.

The Marine Liner *(licensed by Sui-setz via Wikimedia Commons)*

Links and References

・The Prize Project of Marugame Castle’s Yagura and Hanshu Goten Reconstruction Deployment Plan, Marugame City

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

78.丸亀城　その３

「ひとりぼっちの天守」を解消できないものでしょうか。

特徴、見どころ

裏側にもしっかり高石垣

三の丸に戻ると、裏出口から外に出ていくこともできます。城の裏側の方であっても高石垣があるのを見て、また驚かれるかもしれません。実は、現在の裏側の面は、1660年に変更されるまでは城の正面だったのです。その結果、この城は全て石垣で覆われることとなったのです。

最後に山裾では、野面積みと呼ばれる自然石が積み上げられた、この城では独特の石垣を見ることができます。この石垣は、この城の他の石垣より古い方式により積まれています。よってもともとは、この城の最初の城主であった生駒氏によって築かれたのではないかと言われています。

その後

明治維新後、天守や大手門など現存しているものを除き、全て撤去または火災で失われました。城の跡地は第二次世界大戦まで日本陸軍によって使われます。内堀の外側は市街地となりました。丸亀市は1919年に山上に公園を開設しました。天守と大手門の建物は、1957年に重要文化財に指定されました。丸亀市は常に、石垣などの遺跡を保存するために努力しています。しばしば悪天候による被害を受けているからです。また、調査研究を行ったうえで、山上にあった櫓や塀を復元することも検討しています。

私の感想

城の前に立ったとき、素晴らしい高石垣に本当に感動しました。山上から見る景色も素晴らしいです。しかし、正直に言わせていただくと、天守は見事なのですが、どこか寂しそうに見えます。もし天守の周りの櫓や塀が復元されたら、明石城のように城のもとの姿がよみがえるのではないでしょうか。余談ですが、この街は、讃岐うどんでも有名です。城の周りにはうどん店がたくさんあります。旅がもっと楽しくなるでしょう。

ここに行くには

車で行く場合：
高松自動車場の坂出ICまたは善通寺ICから約２０分かかります。
公園周辺にもいくつか駐車場があります。
電車で行く場合は、丸亀駅から歩いて約１０分かかります。
東京または大阪から丸亀駅まで：
東海道新幹線または山陽新幹線に乗り、岡山駅で瀬戸大橋線に乗り換えてください。
もし、松山もしくは高知行きの特急に乗った場合には直接丸亀駅に到着します。
もし、高松行きのマリンライナーに乗った場合には坂出駅でもう一回予讃線に乗り換える必要があります。

マリンライナー *(licensed by Sui-setz via Wikimedia Commons)*

リンク、参考情報

・丸亀城（日本100名城・現存十二天守）、丸亀市
・「よみがえる日本の城１３」学研
・「日本の城改訂版第９、７８」号」デアゴスティーニジャパン
・「史跡丸亀城跡保存活用計画」丸亀市

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

135.Masuyama Castle Part3

Tonami City develops the ruins very well.

Features

Second Enclosure, Center of Castle

You will finally reach the Second Enclosure which had the only stone walls in the castle. They are more difficult to see now with the signpost saying the ruins of the stone walls.

The enclosure is the largest and the highest positioned enclosure in the castle, and it is surrounded by the thick earthen walls. For these reasons, historians have often speculated that this enclosure was the main one of the castle, though it is traditionally called “The Second Enclosure”.

The map around the Second Enclosure (from the location map at the site)

The earthen walls surrounding *the Second Enclosure*

The enclosure also has a mound called Shorodo or the ruins of the Bell Tower where a miniature version of the bell is built now. A turret was most likely there. You can see the next enclosure called the Ajichi Residence over the large deep dry moat form the mound.

The Ajichi Residence that can been seen over the large deep dry moat

Later History

After Masuyama Castle was abandoned, the Kaga Domain owned the ruins of the castle and planted cedar trees during the Edo Period. The cedar trees have been known as the Masuyama Sedars. Tonami City which now owns the ruins started to investigate them in 1987 and excavated them between 1997 and 2003. As a result, the ruins were designated as a National Historic Site in 2009. The city has been developing the ruins as a historical site so that visitors can visit them more easily.

The miniature model of the castle ruins, exhibited by Tonami City **History and Folklore Museum**

My Impression

I think that the ruins of Masuyama Castle are very good study materials for visitors to learn more about what mountain castles were. If ruins of a mountain castle were left alone, it would return to its natural form. Trees and bushes would grow thick and the structures of the castle would collapse. That means visitors are often not sure what the mountain castle looked like or visiting the ruins can be dangerous. However, in the case of Masuyama Castle, Tonami City has developed the ruins to make it easier for visitors to learn more information. For example, bushes are always cut alongside the route. Simple wooden fences and the signboard are built at each enclosure. Therefore, visitors can understand what the layout of the castle would have been and how the defenders would have protect themselves. That’s why I recommend visiting the ruins.

The wooden fences built in the F Enclosure

Looking down the F Enclosure from the Umanosego Enclosure

How to get There

I recommend using a car when you visit the ruins.
It is about 20 minutes away from Tonami IC on the Hokuriku Expressway.
You can park at the information center (Masuyama Jinya).
If you want to use public transportation, you can take a taxi from Tonami Station.
To get to Tonami Station from Tokyo: Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen super express and transfer at Shin-Takanoka Station to the Johana Line.

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