近畿地方～Kinki Region – ページ 38 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

156.Kamaha Castle Part3

Make sure you prepare a lot of time to visit.

Features

Main Enclosure, Center of Castle

To arrive at the Main Enclosure, you will have to pass three other enclosures on the ridge. The enclosure has its entrance ruins with stone steps and stone walls, and some stone walls surround it. Many other stone walls were found by the excavation but buried again in order to preserve it. It is still uncertain who and when these structures were built. Some historians point out they are similar to those of Odani Castle that the Azai Clan built.

The map around the castle

The entrance ruins of the Main Enclosure *(licensed by HikaruKinkakuji via Wikimedia Commons)*

The Kurogane-mon Gate Ruins of Odani Castle

Later History

After its abandonment, Kamaha Castle had been buried for over 400 years. Maibara Town (now is Maibara City), which manages the ruins of the castle, did the research and excavation between 1996 and 2000. It found that the castle had surprisingly advanced systems for mountain castles at that time. As a result, the ruins were designated as a National Historic Site in 2005.

The observation platform at the Large Turret Ruins

My Impression

I can honestly say that I regret not having enough time and preparation to visit the castle ruins. I didn’t think visiting them needed real climbing. As a result, I didn’t see all of them. I recommend you visit with a group, if possible, because it is quite risky.
In addition, there are other routes for visiting the ruins by using car on a forest road near the ruins. Someday I would like to study it and try visiting all of them.

The trail from the underpasses of Hikone43 of the Meshin Expressway

How to get There

I recommend using a car when you visit the castle ruins.
It is about a 5-minute drive away from Maibara IC on the Meishin Expressway. There is a parking lot in the old Banba Station near the underpass of Hikone44 of the expressway.
If you want to use public transportation, you can take the Kohoku Bus bound for Toray Carbon Magic from JR Maibara Station and get off at the Banba bus stop.
To get to Maibara Station from Tokyo: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen super express.

The parking lot for visitors at the old Banba Station

The path from the parking lot to the underpasses of Hikone44

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

156.鎌刃城　その３

十分な準備と時間をかけて行きましょう。

特徴、見どころ

城の中心部、主郭

主郭にたどり着くには峰の上に続くもう三つの曲輪を通り過ぎていきます。主郭には石段を伴った虎口跡があり、石垣により囲まれています。発掘により、他にも多くの石垣が発見されましたが、保存のために埋め戻されてしまったそうです。いつ誰がこのような構造物を作ったのかいまだ明らかではありません。しかし、浅井氏が築いた小谷城に残っているものと類似していると指摘する歴史家もいます。

城周辺の地図

主郭の虎口跡 (licensed by HikaruKinkakuji via Wikimedia Commons)

その後

廃城となった後、鎌刃城は４００年以上埋もれてきました。城跡を管理する米原町（現在の米原市）は、1996年から2000年の間、調査と発掘を行いました。その結果、この城はその当時の山城としては驚くほど先進的なシステムを持っていたことが判明したのです。その成果を受けて、2005年に城跡は国の史跡に指定されました。

私の感想

正直に言いますと、私はこの城跡を訪れるのに、十分な準備と時間を確保できませんでした。この城跡に行くのに登山が必要だとは思っていなかったのです。その結果、城跡の全体を見ることはできませんでした。登山には（危険な箇所や野生動物との遭遇などの）リスクが伴いますので、できましたらグループで行かれる方がよいと思います。
また、城跡に行くのに車を使い林道を通れば、城跡の近くまで行ける別ルートもあるとのことです。いつの日か事前によく調べて城跡全体をしっかり見てみようと思います。

ここに行くには

この城跡に行くには、車を使われることをお勧めします。
名神自動車道の米原ICから約５分のところに、旧番場宿の駐車場があります。自動車道の彦根４４番ゲートの近くです。
公共交通機関を使う場合は、ＪＲ米原駅から東レカーボンマジック行きの湖北バスに乗り、番場バス停で降りてください。
東京から米原駅まで：東海道新幹線に乗ってください。

リンク、参考情報

・鎌刃城公式サイト
・「戦国の山城・近江鎌刃城／米原市教育委員会編」サンライズ出版
・「歴史群像５６号、戦国の堅城　近江鎌刃城」学研
・「信長と消えた家臣たち　失脚・粛清・謀反／谷口克広著」中公新書

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

156.Kamaha Castle Part2

Ruins in the animal kingdom now

Features

Several Routes to Castle Ruins

Today, visiting the ruins of Kamaha Castle needs climbing up the mountain. There are several routes for visiting them. Probably the popular ones are from the old Banba Station on the old Nakasendo Road, because they reach the front side of the castle. You have to walk on the routes for about 1 hour, but many signs will lead you along the way. From the station, you will first go through the underpasses of Hikone44 or 43 of the Meshin Expressway. You have to open and close the front wire netting gate in order to shut animals outside it when you pass. The inside of the gate is basically the animal kingdom now. the route from Hikone44 is relatively smooth but longer, and the one from Hikone43 is shorter but comparatively steeper. The route from Hikone43 seemed to be the original Main Route.

The map around the castle

The old Banba Station on the old Nakasendo Road

A distant view of the mountain where the castle was built

The underpass of Hikone44 of the Meshin Expressway

The underpass of Hikone43 of the Meshin Expressway

If you choose the route from Hikone44, the first part of your visit is completely a trek. You will go on the trail along natural valleys and ridges for over 30 minutes. The signs will show you when you are close to the castle ruins. You will also find a bear-avoiding bell that you can ring. You may not visualize there was an advanced castle where many people usually used it over such a place.

Going on the trail from the underpass of Hikone44

Large Ditch and Stone Walls

You will first reach the Large Ditch in the northern edge of the castle. It may look like a natural valley, but, in fact, it is artificial. The enclosure behind the ditch is called the North VI.

The map around the castle

Looking up the North VI Enclosure from the Large Ditch

You can see the Large Stone Walls in the western side of the enclosure. These stone walls were made in a unique method which uses clay to fill in the gaps.

The cray between the stones can’t be seen just looking at them

Ruins of Large Turret and Entrance

Large scale earthen walls also remain on the enclosure, which supported the Large Turret in the past. A simple wooden observation platform stands there now.

The remaining earthen walls of the enclosure

Looking down the Large Ditch from the observation platform

The next part is the North V Enclosure which has the other entrance ruins with stone steps and stone mound than those in the Main Enclosure.

The entrance ruins of the North V Enclosure

Water is supplied in the enclosure from its source somewhere

After that is the North IV Enclosure has another wooden observation platform for visitors probably because it is a good viewing spot. You can enjoy a good view of the Omi Plain beside Biwa Lake.

The observation platform in the North IV Enclosure

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