内容～Content – ページ 227 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

77.Takamatsu Castle Part1

One of the three greatest sea castles in Japan

Location and History

Chikamasa Ikoma built Castle based on experience

Takamatsu Castle, one of the greatest sea castles in Japan, was located in Sanuki Province which is now Kagawa Prefecture. The name of the prefectural capital, Takamatsu City, actually originates from this castle. Chikamasa Ikoma, who was a warrior in the 16th Century during the Sengoku Period, first built the castle. Chikamasa took part in many battles such as those at Nagashino Castle, Ishiyama Honganji Temple (former Osaka Castle), and Bicchu-Takamatsu Castle under the ruler Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Chikamasa contributed to the unification of the country by Hideyoshi who gave Chikamasa Sanuki Province in 1587.

The location of the castle

The portrait of Chikamasa Ikoma, owned by Kokenji Temple (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The present Osaka Castle, which was once Ishiyama Honganji Temple

Chikamasa at first used the existing Hiketa Castle, but he decided to build a new castle as his home base. From his experiences, his concerns about the castle were:
・whether it would be able to get naval support during battles.
・whether it would be able to withstand gun attacks.
・whether it would be able to survive a long siege.
In the end, he devised Takamatsu Castle, which was completed in 1590.

Castle surrounded by Sea and Triples Moats

Takamatsu Castle was built facing the Seto Inland Sea to the north, making it possible to ship directly to the sea. The castle was also surrounded by water moats tripled in the other directions, to which the sea supplied water. The main enclosure which had the three-layer main tower was isolated in the inner moat, connecting to the second enclosure with only a wooden bridge called saya-bashi. The third enclosure was next to the second enclosure, which had the gate opening to the sea. The enclosure also had the main hall for the lord of the castle. Such a castle was classified not only as a plain castle, but also a sea castle. It would be impossible for enemies to completely besiege this castle with technology at that time.

The folding screen of Takamatsu Castle and the castle town, owned by Kagawa Prefectural Museum (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Matsudaira Clan followed and developed Castle

The Ikoma Clan was allowed to maintain their territory of Sanuki Province for a while by supporting the Tokugawa Shogunate in the battle of Sekigahara in 1600. However, the clan was forcibly moved by the shogunate in 1640 due to their internal strife. After that, the Shogun’s relative, Yorishige Matsudaira was sent to Takamatsu Castle as a replacement for the Ikoma Clan. Though lords were basically not allowed to renovate their castles at that time, he developed and improved Takamatsu Castle by rebuilding the main tower and adding the northern and eastern enclosures. This was because he was also responsible for monitoring non-hereditary feudal lords in Shikoku Island, who might have been against the shogunate.

The old photo of the Main Tower Yorishige rebuilt

Part of the whole illustration of Old Takamatsu Castle, the illustration drawn after Yorishige developed the castle, from the signboard at the site

The Matsudaira Clan governed the castle and the area around as the Takamatsu Domain until the end of the Edo Period. In the peaceful time of the Edo Period, the beautiful view of the castle became a famous attraction for people. A guide book at the time says that the castle looks as if it is a floating castle on the waves from the Seto Inland Sea. The castle has also been said to be one of the three greatest sea castles in Japan.

The miniature model of Takamatsu Castle and the castle town, exhibited by Tamamo Park Museum

To be continued in “Takamatsu Castle Part2”

177.Hiketa Castle Part3

The reason why the stone walls exist today

Features

Eastern Enclosure as Lookout

The other one is the Eastern Enclosure which was used as a lookout point. You can actually see a great view of Harima Sea from the enclosure. The primary function of this site was the lookout point. The warriors would have had to watch see transportation in the past. This enclosure was covered with something like rocks which might have been the leftover of the original stone wall.

Harima Sea seen from the Eastern Enclosure

Several meters down the enclosure is the Hiketa-hana light station. It was first built in 1954 which helped lead ships to safety.

Later History

After Hiketa Castle was abandoned, the Takamatsu Domain owned the ruins of the castle. They planted trees while the castle town was eventually turned into a port town and it prospered during the Edo Period. About 100 years ago during the Taisho Era, the ruins of the castle were developed as the Shiro-yama Park built with a hiking trail as well as observation platform. Higashi-Kagawa City which owns the castle ruins started to excavate them back in 2010 and found out the castle was very important in governing the area around. As a result, the ruins were designated as a National Historic Site back in 2020.

The ruins of the observation platform built in the Taisho Era

A view seen from the *ruins of the observation platform*

My Impression

I think that the ruins of Hiketa Castle are very good educational materials for visitors who want to learn what people at that time thought about castles with stone walls and other new structures. They would have felt things would change and a new era would come, otherwise, such stone walls would not have been built on such a mountain castle which basically did not need stone walls to protect it. That’s why the castle ruins which remain now is so valuable.

The remaining stone walls of the Main Enclosure

The remaining stone walls of the *Northern Second Enclosure*

On the other hand, I also think the ruins still have some other things to be improved on. For example, the latest official brochure doesn’t match what the signposts say at the site in several points. Visitors may get confused. I also hope that the original Main Route will be restored in the future, open to visitors.

“The Southern Enclosure” this signpost says isn’t written in the official brochure

In addition, the Hiketa Town still has old rows of merchants’ houses. They are another good place to visit. You can also buy souvenirs there such as local soy sauces and sweets made from refined sugar called Wasanbon.

The old rows of merchants’ houses at the Hiketa Town *(licensed by 663highland via Wikimedia Commons)*

Assorted sweets made from refined sugar called Wasanbon

How to get There

If you want to visit there by car:
It is about 10 minutes away from Hiketa IC on the Takamatsu Expressway.
You can park beside the Tanoura Campsite or Hiketa Port.
By train, it is about 30 minutes away from JR Hiketa Station on foot.
To get to Hiketa Station from Tokyo or Osaka: Take the Tokaido or Sanyo Shinkansen super express and transfer at Okayama Station to the Seto-Ohashi Line. Take a train called the Marine Liner bound for Takamatsu, then transfer again at Takamatsu Station to the Kotoku Line.

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

177.引田城　その３

この城の石垣が今日存在している意味は何でしょうか。

特徴、見どころ

見張り台としての東丸

もう一つは東丸で、見張りの場所として使われていました。この曲輪からは播磨灘の素晴らしい景色を眺めることができます。この地点の主な役割は、周りを監視することでした。かつては、武士たちはここから海上交通の様子を見張っていたことでしょう。この曲輪は岩のようなものに覆われていますが、もとからあった石垣の一部が残っているのかもしれません。

ここから少し下ったところには引田鼻灯台があります。この灯台は1954年に建てられ、船の安全な航行を助けています。

その後

引田城が廃城になった後、高松藩が城跡を所有していました。城跡は植林され、城下町はやがて港町となり、江戸時代の間繁栄を続けました。約１００年前の大正時代、城跡は城山公園として開発され、ハイキングコースや展望台が設置されました。現在城跡を所有している東かがわ市は、去る2010年に城跡の発掘を開始したところ、引田城がこの周辺の地域を治めるのに重要な役割を果たしたことが判明しました。その結果、城跡は2020年に国の史跡に指定されました。

私の感想

引田城は、その当時の人々が石垣や他の新しい構造をもった城に対してどう思っていたのか知るためのとても良い教材だと思うのです。人々は物事が変わり、新しい時代が来たことを感じたのではないでしょうか。そうでなければ、このような石垣が、このような山城には築かれなかったのではないでしょうか。基本的に山城には石垣がなくても城を守ることができたからです。この城跡が今に残っていることがとても貴重である理由は、そこにあるのです。

一方、この城跡で改善してほしい事もいくつかあります。例えば、最新の公式パンフレットに記載されている内容が、現地の標柱で表示している内容と一部合っていません。観光客は困惑してしまいます。あと、大手道を復旧し、観光客向けに開放していただきたいです。

余談ですが、引田の町には古い商家の街並みが残っています。ここも訪れてみてはいかがでしょうか。そこには、地元の醤油や、和三盆と呼ばれる上質な砂糖から作られる和菓子などのお土産物もあります。

引田の街並み *(licensed by 663highland via Wikimedia Commons)*

和三盆から作られた和菓子 *(taken by KOMI from photoAC)*

ここに行くには

車で行く場合：
高松自動車道の引田ICから約１０分かかります。
田の浦キャンプ場か引田港の近くに駐車できます。
電車の場合は、ＪＲ引田駅から歩いて約３０分かかります。
東京か大阪から引田駅まで：東海道新幹線か山陽新幹線に乗って、岡山駅で瀬戸大橋線に乗り換えてください。高松行きのマリンライナーに乗って、高松駅で高徳線に再度乗り換えてください。

リンク、参考情報

・「続日本100名城」スタンプラリーを実施中！～引田城～、東かがわ市
・萩原さちこの城さんぽ、第３５号引田城
・「日本の城改訂版第１５５号」デアゴスティーニジャパン
・「東かがわ市内遺跡発掘調査報告書、引田城址」東かがわ市教育委員会

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