Yamanaka Castle had been abandoned for a long time since the battle in 1590. In 1930, a descendant of Naosue Hitotsuyanagi made a plan for the historic site. As a result, the ruins were designated as a National Historic Site in 1934. In addition, Mishima City excavated the ruins and developed them as a historical park between 1972 and 1993. That’s why we can now enjoy visiting the park, learning history, and relaxing.
The dry moat called “Shoji-bori” and Mt. Fuji
My Impression
The development for the Yamanaka-jo Castle Park was completed in 1993, nearly 30 years ago. I think that this is one of the very early cases for historical parks in Japan. This can also be a good model for the historical parks for other castles which are now being developed. Basically, the western slope of the Hakone Barrier has been a perfect spot for viewing Mt. Fuji. If the weather is fine, you can get both views of the mountain and the castle ruins there.
A view of Mt. Fuji from the ruins
How to get There
If you want to visit there by car: From the east, it takes about 30 minutes from Hakoneguchi IC on Seisho Bypass. From the west, it takes about 40 minutes from Numazu IC on Tomei Expressway. The park offers a parking lot at the entrance. By bus, get on the Tokai Bus bound for Moto-Hakone-Ko from the south entrance of Mishima Station, and get off at the Yamanaka-Jo-Ato bus stop. To get to the Mishima Station from Tokyo: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen Super Express.
過去は海の城、今は駅の城
Sea castle in the past, Station castle in the present
立地と歴史～Location and History
毛利氏の海軍基地～Navy Base for Mori Clan
三原城は最初は、戦国時代の16世紀後半に中国地方を支配していた毛利氏の支族、小早川隆景が築きました。毛利氏は近畿地方の織田氏から侵略されていて、それを防ぐための大きな城で、海軍の基地としても使えるものを必要としていたのです。三原城はそのうちの一つで、沼田川の河口にあったデルタ地帯の島の上に築かれました。この地域は三原浦と呼ばれており、そのためその城も三原城と呼ばれました。このような立地は、後に毛利氏の本拠地となった広島城と似通っています。 Mihara Castle was first built by Takakage Kobayakawa, the head of a branch family of the Mori Clan which owned Chugoku Region in the late 16th Century during the Sengoku Period. The clan was being invaded by the Oda Clan in Kinki Region, so they thought they needed large castles to prevent invasions and to use as the bases for their navy. Mihara Castle was one of them and was built on the islands on the delta in the estuary of Nutagawa River. The area had been called Mihara Bay, so the castle has been called Mihara Castle. Such a location is similar to Hiroshima Castle which later became the home base of the Mori Clan.
小早川隆景肖像画、米山寺蔵～The portrait of Takakage Kobayakawa, owned by Beisanji Temple (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)
城の位置～The location of the castle
海の城～Sea Castle
城の主要部分は、中央にある大きな三角形の島の上にあり、本丸と二の丸がありました。南側の三角形の底辺の部分は海に面しており、北側の三角形の頂点には天守台石垣がありました。しかし、天守は築かれずに、代わりに３基の二階櫓が台の上に築かれました。主要部は水堀と海によって周りの地区から完全に切り離されており、周りとは２つの橋がある門のみとつながっていました。更には、石垣に沿っていくつもの船着き場がありました。この城は、海の城とでもいえるものだったのです。 The main portion of the castle was on the large central triangular island which included the Main Enclosure and the Second Enclosure. The base of the triangle on the south faced the sea, and the top of the triangle on the north had the stone wall base for the Main Tower, but the tower was not built, instead, the three two-story turrets were built on the base. The main portion was completely separated from the area around by water moats and the sea, and just connected with two gates with bridges to surrounding area. In addition, several ports were built beside the stone walls. The castle could be called a sea castle.
備後国之内三原城所絵図～The illustration of Mihara Castle in Bingo Province （出展：国立公文書館）天守台石垣～The stone wall base for the Main Tower
福島氏、浅野氏が引き継ぐ～Fukushima, Asano Clans follow it
毛利氏の後は、福島正則が江戸時代の１７世紀初頭にこの城を支配しました。彼は海に面して１０基もの二階櫓を築き、城の防御力を強化しました。ところが、1619年に徳川幕府により改易になってしまいます。浅野氏が城を引き継ぎ江戸時代末まで統治しました。浅野氏は、広島城を本拠地としていて、三原城は支城とみなされていました。幕府は通常は大名に対して２つ以上の城を持つことを禁じていましたが、浅野氏は例外として三原城を維持することができたのでした。 After the Mori Clan, Masanori Fukushima governed the castle at the beginning of the 17th Century during the Edo Period. He built as many as ten two-story turrets facing the sea, which made the castle more defensive. However, he was fired by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1619. The Aasano Clan took over the castle and governed it until the end of the Edo Period. The Asano Clan lived in Hiroshima Castle as their home base while Mihara Castle was regarded as their branch castle. The shogunate usually didn’t allow the lords to have a second castle, but the Asano Clan was able to have Mihara Castle as an exception.
福島正則肖像画、東京国立博物館蔵～The portrait of Masanori Fukushima, owned by the Tokyo National Museum (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)
特徴～Features
まるで駅の城～Just like Station Castle
現在、三原城跡はＪＲ三原駅と電車線に覆われているように見えます。実際、城跡の一部は専用通路により駅とつながっているのです。営業時間内であれば、誰でもこの通路を通ってそこに行くことができます。ここは天守台石垣の上で、城の主要部分ではもっとも北側に当たります。この区域は公園のように整備されていて、北側の方では、天守台を囲む水堀を眺めることができます。また、南側の方では山陽新幹線のホームをすぐ近くの同じ高さで見ることができます。ホームには新幹線の車両が頻繁に通り過ぎたり、止まったりしているのがよくわかります。大変ユニークであり、まるで駅の城とも言えるでしょう。 Now, the ruins of Mihara Castle look like being covered with JR Mihara Station and the JR Railway. In fact, part of the ruins is connected to the station by an exclusive path. Anyone can visit this part of the castle through the path during the opening hours. This is the top of the stone wall base for the Main Tower, which was the northmost part of the main portion of the castle. The area has been developed like a park where you can see a view of the water moat surrounding the base on the north. You can also see the platform for the Sanyo Shinkansen Super Express close by at the same level on the south. You can enjoy seeing the super express trains often passing by or stopping at the platform. It is very unique, and it could be called a station castle.
駅の中から天守台へ～From the inside the station to the base for the Main Tower天守台への階段～The stairways to the base for the Main Tower天守台入口～The entrance of the base天守台の上～The top of the base天守台から北側の眺め～A view from the base on the north天守台から南側の眺め～A view from the base on the south天守台はホームのすぐ近くです～The base is very close to the platform天守台から見た新幹線車両～A view of the trains for Shinkansen from the baseホームから見た天守台～A view of the base from the platform
巨大な天守台～Huge base for Main Tower
また、駅の外で堀の周りを歩きながら天守台石垣を見上げることもできます。この天守台は、日本で最も大きなものの一つで、将軍の江戸城のものと同じくらいの大きさです。但し、天守の代わりに３基の二階櫓が立っていました。この天守台のもう一つの珍しい点は、違う時代の石材によりできていることです。西側の石は小早川時代のもので、東側は福島時代のものです。小早川の石は古い方式により積まれており、福島の方は新しい方式のよるとのことです。 You can also walk around the moat looking up at the stone walls for the base outside the station. This base for the Main Tower is one of the largest ones in Japan which has similar size to the Shogun’s Edo Castle. However, there were three two-story turrets on it instead of a Main Tower. Another unique point is that it has stones from different periods. The stones on the western side come from Kobayakawa’s period, and those on the eastern side come from Fukushima’s. Kobayakawa’s stone walls were built using an older method, whereas Fukushima’s method is newer.
駅の外から見た天守台～A view of the base from the outside of the station小早川時代に作られた部分～The part which was built in Kobayakawa’s period福島時代に作られた部分～The part which was built in Fukushima’s period
城跡の他の部分～Other parts of Ruins
城周辺の航空写真～The aerial photo around the castle
城跡としては他にはあまり残っていませんが、駅から三原港の方に歩いて行くと、現存している石垣を見ることができます。その上には現代の建物が建っています。ここは、城の主要部分の西端に当たります。石垣の中ほどには、２つの入口の一つであった中門跡があります。石垣の南端部分は、臨海一番櫓跡です。かつてこの櫓は海に面していました。ここから三原港までは海だったわけです。 Other ruins of the castle remain few, but if you walk down from the station to Mihara Port, you can see the remaining stone walls on which modern buildings stand. They were the western border of the main portion of the castle. On the middle of the stone walls, there are the ruins of Naka-mon Gate which was one of the two entrances to the portion. The southmost part of the stone walls are the ruins of Rinkai-Ichiban-Yagura Turret or the First Seaside Turret. The turret faced the sea in the past. The area from the ruins to Mihara Port was once the sea.
中門跡～The ruins of Naka-mon Gate臨海一番櫓跡～The ruins of the First Seaside Turret三原港～Mihara Port
主要部分の東側の城跡は、城町公園として残っています。この公園には船入櫓という櫓の跡があります。ここの石垣は岩礁の上に乗っていて、かつては海岸だったことがわかります。 The ruins of the eastern part of the main portion remain as Shiromachi Park. The park has the ruins of another turret called Funairi-Yagura Turret or the Port Turret. Their remaining stone walls are on a shore reef where it was once seaside.
船入櫓跡の石垣～The stone walls of the ruins of the Port Turret (三原市Websiteより引用)
その後～Later History
明治維新後、三原城は廃城となり、全ての建物は売られるか撤去されました。1894年、鉄道の三原駅と山陽本線が作られたとき、天守台石垣のすぐ南の本丸の用地がその建設のために供されたのです。本丸のほとんどの石垣は、他の港の資材として運ばれ、ほとんどの水堀はその工事中に埋められてしまいました。城跡は、1957年に国の史跡に指定されました。1975年、山陽新幹線が作られたとき、高架橋が城跡を壊さないよう、その上を覆って設置されました。 After the Meiji Restoration, Mihara Castle was abandoned, and all of its buildings were sold or demolished. In 1894, when Mihara Railway Station and Sanyo Railway Line were built, the ground for the Main Enclosure, just to the south of the stone wall base, was used for the construction of the train line and the station. Most of the enclosure’s stone walls were carried to another port as materials, and most of the water moats were filled during the construction. The ruins have been designated as a National Historic Site since 1957. In 1975, when the Sanyo Super Express Line was built, the overhead railway was placed across the ruins so as not to harm them. This is what we see there now.
石垣に被さっているような高架線～The overhead railway like covering the stone walls (taken by マンハッタン from photo AC)
私の感想～My Impression
三原城を最初に見た印象は人によってちがうかもしれません。城跡が現代の建物によりほとんど壊されていると思うかもしれませんし、城跡と駅の組み合わせが面白いと思うかもしれません。私は、ここを訪れる前は前者だったのですが、訪れた後は後者に近い印象です。また、一方で行政側に対しては、視覚に訴える掲示やＶＲ技術を使ったりして、もっと三原城はどのような姿をしていたのか知らせるべきと思います。 The first impression of Mihara Castle may be different for each person. One might think the ruins were mostly destroyed by modern buildings, or others might think the combination of the ruins and the station looks interesting. I believed the former before I visited the ruins; my impression is now similar to the latter after visiting them. I also feel that officials should let people know what Mihara Castle looked like using visual image boards as well as VR technology.
天守台石垣～The stone wall base for the Main Tower
ここに行くには～How to get There
三原城跡は、三原駅のすぐ北隣です。 The ruins of Mihara Castle neighbors Mihara Station to the south.
リンク、参考情報～Links and References
・三原城跡、三原市（Mihara City Official Website） ・よみがえる日本の城７、学研（Japanese Book） ・「日本の城改訂版第４２号」デアゴスティーニジャパン（Japanese Book）
福山市はまさにこの城から始まりました。
Fukuyama City really started from this castle.
立地と歴史～Location and History
新しい城と町～New Castle and Town
福山城は、広島県東部の福山市にあります。現在、この市は県で２番目の大都市ですが、城が築かれる前は町はありませんでした。それまでは、この地域は広島城にいた福島氏が支配していました。 Fukuyama Castle is located in Fukuyama City to the eastern part of Hiroshima Prefecture. Today, the city is the second largest city in the prefecture, but there had been no town before the castle was built. Before that, the area belonged to the Fukushima Clan who lived in Hiroshima Castle.
城の位置～The location of the castle
1619年、福島氏は徳川幕府により改易され、その領地は他の大名たちに分割されました。幕府は、そのうちの一部の地に譜代大名の水野勝成を送り込み、西日本の大名を監視させました。勝成は、芦田川という川のデルタ地帯にあった丘の上に、新しい城を城下町とともに築くことになりました。この新しい城は福山城と呼ばれ、日本で最後に築かれた大規模な城と言われています。これは幕府が1615年以来、原則として新しい城を築くことを禁じていたからです。福山城はとても稀なケースだったのです。 In 1619, the clan were fired by the Tokugawa Shogunate and their territory was divided among other clans. The shogunate sent Katsunari Mizuno, a hereditary feudal lord to one of the divided territories, to monitor other lords in western Japan. Katsunari was responsible for building a new castle on a hill in the delta of a river called Ashidagawa with a new castle town. The new castle was called Fukuyama Castle, which is said to be the last newly built large-scale castle in Japan. This is because the Shogunate basically banned the lords from building any new castles from 1615. The case of Fukuyama Castle is very rare.
水野勝成肖像画、賢忠寺蔵～The portrait of Katsunari Mizuno, owned by Kenchuji Temple (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)
天守と櫓～Main Tower and Turrets
この城には、本丸、二の丸、三の丸という３つの曲輪が築かれました。内堀が、二の丸と三の丸の間に掘られました。外堀は城全体を囲んでいました。多くの櫓や門が築かれるか、他の城から移築されました。一例として、伏見櫓は伏見城から移されたものです。天守は本丸にあり、５層で、屋根は唐破風や千鳥破風により装飾されていました。この天守のユニークな点は、北にある丘からの砲撃に備え、北側が全て黒い鉄板に覆われていることでした。建築工事は３年間続き、1622年に完成します。 The castle was built with three enclosures – the Main, the Second, and the Third Enclosures. The Inner Moat was built between the Second and the Third Enclosures. The Outer Moat surrounded the whole castle. Many turrets and gates were built or moved from other castles. For example, the Fushimi Turret was moved from Fushimi Castle. The Main Tower was on the Main Enclosure, which had five layers and its roofs were decorated with Chinese style gables and triangular shaped gables. The unique feature of the tower was that its northern side was all covered with black steel plates to prevent damage from canon fire from other hills in the north. The construction took three years before the castle was completed in 1622.
福山城のミニチュアモデル～The miniature model of Fukuyama Castle (福山城博物館～the Fukuyama Castle Museum)
優れた城主たち～Excellent Lords of Castle
勝成はまた優れた政治家であり、江戸時代の日本で最も有名な上水道の一つ、福山上水を開設しました。その後も、何人もの城主が幕府中枢で重要な役職を務めました。例えば、阿部正弘は筆頭老中となり、1853年と1854年のアメリカのマシュー・ペリー来航といった幕末の困難な外交に対処しました。ところが、この城は1868年に新政府軍からの標的にされてしまいます。砲撃が開始され、砲弾が天守に飛び込みました。守備側は降伏したのですが、その砲弾は幸い不発でした。 Katsunari was also a good politician who created the Fukuyama Water Supply, one of the most famous water supplies in the Edo Period in Japan. After that, several lords of the castle also had important roles in the central Shogunate. For example, Masahiro Abe became the head of the Shogun’s council of elders and handled the difficult diplomatic problems at the end of the Edo Period such as the arrivals of Matthew Perry’s fleet from the US in 1853 and 1854. However, the castle was targeted by the New Government Army in 1868. They opened fire and a cannon ball entered into the Main Tower before the defenders surrendered. The ball, fortunately, didn’t explode.
阿部正弘写真～The picture of Masahiro Abe (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)
特徴～Features
駅からすぐの本丸～Main Enclosure next to Station
現在、福山城は福山駅のすぐ近くにあります。もしくは駅が城の中にあるとも言えるでしょう。実際駅は、埋められた内堀、二の丸、三の丸の上に建てられたのです。駅の北側に沿っている道は、二の丸の端に当たります。本丸と、二の丸の一部のみが福山城公園として残っています。 Now, Fukuyama Castle is very close to Fukuyama Station, or we can rather say the station is in the castle. The station was actually built on the reclaimed Inner Moat, the Second Enclosure, and the Third Enclosure. The street along the northern side of the station was the edge of the Second Enclosure. Only the Main Enclosure and part of the Second Enclosure remain as Fukuyama Castle Park.
城周辺の航空写真～The aerial photo around the castle
福山駅から見た福山城～A view of Fukuyama Castle from Fukuyama Station
福山駅の北出口を出ると最初に、二段の石垣に囲まれた本丸の姿が見えます。とても力強い存在感です。石垣の表面の一部には、1945年の福山大空襲のときに生じた焦げ跡が見られます。東側にある公園の正面口には、現代になって作られた道があり、容易に本丸の中に入って行けます。 You can first see the Main Enclosure surrounded by two-step stone walls from the north exit of Fukuyama Station. It has a very strong presence. The surface of the stone walls is covered with burn marks in some areas which was caused by the Great Fukuyama Air Raid in 1945. You can also walk into the enclosure easily through a moderate slope at the main entrance of the park on the east. This entrance was built in the present day.
石垣に見える焦げ跡～The burn marks on the stone walls城への入口～The entrance to the castle
再建された天守～Rebuilt Main Tower
現在見ることができる５層の天守は1966年に再建されたもので、福山城博物館として使われています。ここでは、城や福山市のことをより学ぶことができます。しかし、現在は改装中で、2022年まで続くとのことです。現在の天守の外観は、元あったものとは異なっています。例えば、現在のものは黒い鉄板は装着されていません。ただし、その鉄板は今回の改装により天守に取り付けられるそうです。 The five-layer Main Tower we now see was rebuilt in 1966 and is used as the Fukuyama Castle Museum where you can learn more about the castle and the city. However, the tower is now being renovated. The renovations will continue until 2022. The appearance of the tower is different from the original one. For example, the present one doesn’t have the black steel plates. The plates will be added to the tower after the renovation.
再建された天守～The rebuilt Main Tower天守からの眺め～A view from the Main Tower
現存する建物～Remaining Buildings
現存する建物は、伏見櫓、筋金御門、鐘楼の３棟だけです。伏見櫓と筋金御門は重要文化財に指定されています。とりわけ伏見櫓は古い形式で大型の３階櫓であり、伏見城から移築されてきました（そのために伏見櫓といいます）。日本で最も古い現存櫓の一つです。ところが、内部が一般に公開されるは、一年に１日だけです。 There are only three remaining buildings in the castle called Fushimi Turret, Sujigane-gomon Gate and the Bell Tower. Fushimi Turret and Sujigane-gomon Gate are designated as Important Cultural Properties. In particular, Fusimi Turret is an old style, large three-story turret that was moved from Fushimi Castle (so called Fusimi Turret). It is one of the oldest remaining turrets in Japan. However, access to its interior by the public, is available just one day a year.
伏見櫓～Fushimi Turret筋金御門～Sujigane-gomon Gate鐘楼～The Bell Tower
他にも、月見櫓などいくつか城の建物があるのですが、天守と同時期に再建されたものです。 There are also several traditional style buildings such as Tsukimi Turret which were rebuilt at the same time as the present Main Tower.
月見櫓～Tsukimi Turret
その後～Later History
明治維新後、福山城は廃城となり、本丸を除く建物と敷地は売られていきました。天守などのいくつかの建物と本丸は、福山公園として何とか残りました。天守は1931年には国宝に指定されます。ところが、1945年の福山大空襲により残念なことに焼け落ちてしまいました。 After the Meiji Restoration, Fukuyama Castle was abandoned, and its buildings and ground excluding the Main Enclosure were sold. The Main Enclosure with several buildings such as the Main Tower somehow remained as Fukuyama Park. The Main Tower was designated as a National Treasure in 1931. However, it was unfortunately burned down by The Great Fukuyama Air Raid in 1945.
戦前の福山城と福山駅～Fukuyama Castle and Fukuyama Station before World War II (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)
第二次世界大戦後、城は公園として再び整備されました。1964年に国の史跡に指定されますが、1966年には天守と他の建物が再建されました。一方、公園周辺の地域は完全に市街地化しました。市街地化が進む中、十分な調査がなされずに城跡が破壊されてきたことを指摘する人もいました。 After World War II, the castle was developed as a park again. It was designated as a National Historic Site in 1964, and the Main Tower and other buildings were rebuilt in 1966. On the other hand, the area around the park was completely turned into the city area. Some have pointed out that the ruins of the castle were destroyed without enough investigations during the urbanization.
再建された天守～The rebuilt Main Tower
私の感想～My Impression
福山城は歴史公園として大いなる潜在能力があると思います。天守の改装後どうなるか楽しみなところです。しかしながら、行政側は、伏見櫓のような現存建物にもっと焦点を当てるべきと感じます。例えば、一般公開の日をもっと増やしてほしいです。また、過去、城はどのようであったのかを人々に知ってもらうべきでしょう。なぜなら、福山市自体が福山城なしには存在しなかったのですから。 I think that Fukuyama Castle has great potential for becoming a historical park. I’m looking forward to seeing the renewal of the Main Tower after the renovation. However, I feel that officials should feature the remaining buildings such as Fushimi Turret more. For example, it should be open to the public on more days each year. Officials should also let people know what the castle was like in the past because there wouldn’t be Fukuyama City itself without Fukuyama Castle.
伏見櫓（正面）～Fushimi Turret (the front) (taken by ジュンP from photo AC)伏見櫓（裏側）～Fushimi Turret (the back)
ここに行くには～How to get There
福山城は福山駅北口（福山城口）のすぐ近くです。駅から歩いて１、２分のところです。 Fukuyama Castle is very close to the north (Fukuyama-jo) exit of Fukuyama Station. It takes about one or two minutes to walk to the castle from the station.
