中部地方～Chubu Region – ページ 42 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

34.Nanao Castle Part3

Watch out for wild animals.

Features

You can also visit other enclosures near the Main Enclosure. For instance, the Nukui Residence is next to the Sakura Riding Ground. It has the ruins of its entrance which was built using a huge stone called Kyu-shaku-ishi or 2.7m Wide Stone, which might have been the Back Gate of the castle.

The ruins of its entrance which was built using a huge stone called 2.7m Wide Stone

The Second Enclosure is the next to the Nukui Residence, which was also an important defensive point. Finally, the Third Enclosure is over another large deep ditch. Unfortunately, you will have to go up and down the stairs on very steep cliffs to get there.

The imaginary drawing of the Second Enclosure (from the signboard at the site)

Later History

In the Edo Period after Nanao Castle was abandoned, the Kaga Domain banned people from cutting down trees around the mountain. This prevented farmers cutting down trees and materials. The study of the ruins started about 100 years ago, and as a result, the ruins were designated as a National Historic Site in 1934. Nanao City has been maintaining the ruins since 1966. The city is planning to provide a fine landscape in the main portion and develop the Main Route from the foot of the mountain while preserving the ruins properly.

The city view of Nanao City from the castle ruins

The Main Route to the main portion of the castle

My Impression

I saw the signboard at the site that wonders of wild boars that often dig up the ruins. When I walked down from the Second Enclosure to get to the Third Enclosure, I noticed the back of a wild boar. I have been told that wild boars can attack you suddenly without warning. Therefore, I decided to give up to get there and head back. Visiting mountain castles is very interesting as long as you take precaution. Be careful not to provoke wild animals, as they can attack you unknowingly.

The signboard that tells about wild boars

How to get There

I recommend using a car when you visit the ruins.
If you want to go directly to the main portion of the castle,
It is about 15 minutes away from Nanao-Shiroyama IC on the Noto Expressway.
If you want to walk from the foot of the mountain,
I would recommend parking at the Nanao Castle History Museum. it takes about one hour to the top going through the Main Route.

Links and References

・Historic Site Nanao Castle Ruis, Nanao City

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

34.七尾城　その３

野性動物には気を付けましょう。

特徴、見どころ

本丸の近くの他の曲輪にも行ってみましょう。温井屋敷は桜馬場のとなりにあります。ここには九尺石と呼ばれる巨石を使った入口の跡があります。ここは城の搦手門だった可能性があります。

二の丸は温井屋敷のとなりにあり、ここも城を守る上で重要な拠点でした。最後に、三の丸はもう一方の堀切の向こう側にあります。そこに行くには、急崖にある階段を上り下りしなければなりません。

その後

七尾城が廃城となった後の江戸時代には、加賀藩はこの山周辺の伐採を禁じていました。農民が木材その他の資材を切り出すことはできませんでした。城跡の研究は約１００年前から始まりました。その結果、1934年には城跡は国の史跡に指定されました。七尾市は1966年から城跡の維持管理を行っています。市は、城跡の遺産を保護しつつ、主要部の眺望を良くし、山麓から伸びる大手道を整備することを計画しています。

私の感想

現地説明板にはイノシシが城跡を掘り起こしてしまっているという事が書かれていました。実際私が二の丸から三の丸に行こうと崖を下っていたとき、イノシシの後ろ姿に気が付きました。イノシシに突然遭遇したときには襲われる可能性があると聞いていましたので、三の丸に行くのはあきらめ、引き返しました。山城を訪れるのはとても面白いのですが、気を付けるべきこともあります。野生動物に不意に襲われないためには、彼らを刺激しないようにしましょう。

ここに行くには

ここを訪れるときには車を使われることをお勧めします。
城の主要部に直接行く場合には、能登自動車道の七尾城山ICから約１５分かかります。
山麓から歩かれる場合には、七尾城史資料館に駐車してから、大手道を通って頂上まで約１時間かかります。

リンク、参考情報

・史跡七尾城跡、七尾市
・「戦国の山城を極める　厳選２２城／加藤理文　中井均著」学研プラス
・「日本の城改訂版第５５号」デアゴスティーニジャパン
・史跡七尾城整備基本計画書、七尾市教育委員会

これで終わります。ありがとうございました。
「七尾城その１」に戻ります。
「七尾城その２」に戻ります。

34.Nanao Castle Part2

The main portion of the castle is still outstanding.

Features

From Parking lot to Main portion of Castle

Today, you can access the main portion of the ruins of Nanao Castle directly by car. The ruins, however, don’t have castle buildings now, but their foundation remains intact. There is a parking lot on one of the enclosures under the Cho Residence. You can walk on the well developed trail to the Main Enclosure from the parking lot.

The map around the castle

You can also see the large deep ditch called Horikiri between the Main Enclosure and the Cho Residence followed by the vertically cut cliff called Kirigishi of the Main Enclosure along the trail. They are, however, artificial.

The large deep ditch between the Main Enclosure and the Cho Residence

The vertically cut cliff under the Main Enclosure

You will first reach the Chodo-maru which was the place where weapons were prepared under the Sakura Riding Ground. The original Main Route also reached the Chodo-maru in the past.

The imaginary drawing of Chodo-maru (from the signboard at the site)

Wonderful stone walls

Next, you will see the large five-tier stone walls piled up naturally called Nozura-zumi when you walk up to the Sakura Riding Ground. The stone walls look beautiful because of the moss that covers it. They were built by Toshiie Maeda and are one of the highlights of the castle.

The five-tier stone walls Toshiie Maeda built

From the front of the Sakura Riding Ground, you can go straight to the Main Enclosure through the Yusa Residence. However, this route was not original. It was said to have been built when the Shiroyama Shrine was established on the enclosure about 80 years ago. Thanks to that, you can also see the great three-tier stone walls of the enclosure which is close by.

The entrance of the Sakura Riding Ground

The three-tier stone walls of the Main Enclosure

Main Enclosure was well protected

The enclosure was protected well by the stone walls and the vertically cut cliff in the past. The original route zigzagged and went around the back of the enclosure, guarded by the other square space called Soto-Masugata which was put on the outside of the enclosure.

The stone walls and vertically cut cliff protecting the Main Enclosure

The square space outside the original entrance of the Main Enclosure

The inside of the Main Enclosure is basically empty and the monument of the castle remains standing. The shrine is on the ruins of the Main Tower. The tower is thought to have a cypress bark roof or shingled roof, because no roof tiles were ever found during the excavation. The view from the enclosure is amazing. If the weather is nice, you will be able to see the whole view of Nanao City along the Nanao Bay and Noto Peninsula.

The monument stands an the Main Enclosure

The Shiroyama Shrine on the ruins of the Main Tower

To be continued in “Nanao Castle Part3”
Back to “Nanao Castle Part1”