近畿地方～Kinki Region – ページ 46 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

159.Akutagawa-san Castle Part3

When you get there, you can see why the castle was built there.

Later History

After Akutagawa-san Castle was abandoned, part of the ruins was turned into a farm. In the Edo Period, people at a village on the foot of the mountain built a shrine for worshiping Nagayoshi Miyoshi on the top. The shrine is still there. Takatsuki City has continued to investigate and study the ruins of the castle since 1993. It found that the castle was unique and important in Japanese history. It also aims to have the ruins designated as a National Historic Site.

The shrine for worshiping Nagayoshi Miyoshi *(licensed by ブレイズマン via via Wikimedia Commons)*

The remaining stone walls of the Main Gate

My Impression

When I stood on the top of the mountain, I felt that I found the reason why Nagayoshi chose this castle as his home base. It could be because he was able to see his Settsu Province from the top of the mountain. This would allow him to see what was happening in the province, and easily rush there if needed. In addition, the castle provided him with enough security to live. I was also wondering if he considered Ikoma Mountains as his next home base when he saw them from Akutagawa-san Castle. If he could have a castle on the mountains, he would monitor his province from both sides of the north and south, which would make his governance more stable.

Ikoma Mountains where Imori Castle was built

The locations of Imori Castle and Akutagawa-san Castle, and the range of Settsu Province

How to get There

Take the Takatsuki City Bus bound for Tsukawaki or Shimonokuchi from JR Takatsuki Station and get off at the Tsukawaki bus stop.
To get to Takatsuki Station from Tokyo: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen Super Express, and transfer to the Kyoto Line at Kyoto Station.

Links and References

・Takatsuki City Official Website (Access to the Summit of Mt. Miyoshi)

That’s all.
Back to “Akutagawa-san Castle Part1”
Back to “Akutagawa-san Castle Part2”

159.芥川山城　その３

そこに行けば、なぜそこに城があったかわかります。

その後

芥川山城が廃城となった後、城跡の一部は農地となりました。江戸時代には、山麓にいた村人たちが山頂に三好長慶をを祀る祠を建てました。その祠は今でもあります。高槻市は、1993年以来城跡の調査研究を続けてきました。その結果、この城が日本の歴史の中で独特かつ重要であることがわかったのです。また、市は城跡を国の史跡に指定されるよう活動しています。

三好長慶を祀る祠 *(licensed by ブレイズマン via via Wikimedia Commons)*

私の感想

私がこの山の山頂に立ったとき、なぜ長慶がこの城を本拠地に選んだのかわかったような気がしました。長慶は、山頂から彼が支配する摂津国一帯を見渡すことができました。その国で何が起こっているのか把握し、必要であればすぐに行動することができたのです。更に、この城に住むことで安全を確保できました。また、想像するに長慶は芥川山城から生駒山地を見て、そこを次の本拠地にしようと考えたのではないでしょうか。そうすれば、南北両側から彼の支配国を監視でき、統治をもっと安定できるからです。

飯盛城、芥川山城の位置と摂津国の範囲

ここに行くには

ＪＲ高槻駅から塚脇行きか下の口行きの高槻市営バスに乗り、塚脇バス停で降りてください。
東京から高槻駅まで：東海道新幹線に乗り、京都駅で京都線に乗り換えてください。

リンク・参考情報

・芥川城跡／高槻市ホームページ
・「歴史群像５５号、戦国の堅城　摂津芥川山城」学研
・「歴史群像１６６号、三好長慶伝」学研

これで終わります。
「芥川山城その１」に戻ります。
「芥川山城その２」に戻ります。

159.Akutagawa-san Castle Part2

You can enjoy both of the ruins and a great view.

Features

Walking from Bus Stop

Now the ruins of Akutagawa-san Castle are private owned and not developed as a public park. Visitors usually have to walk from the nearest bus stop. You may be unsure which mountain you should climb and how you go to the ruins. It is a good idea to bring the route map called “Access to the Summit of Mt. Miyoshi” which you can download from the website of Takatsuki City. After about a 15-minute walk from the bus stop, the route is divided in to two branches. You can choose either of the two routes.

The map around the castle

Access to the Summit of Mt. Miyoshi (exhibited by Takatsuki City Website)

Tsukawaki Route

One of them is called Tsukawaki Route which goes around on the eastern side of the mountain and has a gentle slope. You can see a lot of the ruins of enclosures, but cannot enter them, because the route is surrounded by fences, so accessible areas are limited. You can also see the earthen walls crossing the route at a 90-degree angle. They are called Tate-Dorui or the Vertical Earthen Walls which prevented enemies from attacking the castle from other positions. You will also see the narrow earthen bridge with both sides having dry moats. The purpose of the system is the same as the Vertical Earthen Walls. You can even see something like the ruins of the alternate entrance.

The Vertical Earthen Walls *(licensed by ブレイズマン via via Wikimedia Commons)*

The ruins which might have been the alternate entrance

Main Route

The other branch route is called Otesuji Route or the Main Route which goes straight up to the mountain. It is steep and rocky. You can see some old stone walls around the entrance of the mountain, but they seem to be not original for the castle. The route is also surrounded by fences and you even have to pass through a door for preventing wild boars from entering the area. Take care to close it after entering or leaving. After about a 15-minute climb, you will see the stone walls of the Main Gate. The center part of them collapsed, however they are original to the castle.

The stone walls around the entrance of the route

Great view from Main Enclosure

The two branch routes meet above the stone walls, as you approach the Main Enclosure on the top. The outside field will suddenly become visible; it provides a great view of the Osaka Plain. You will finally reach the Main Enclosure after another few minutes of climbing. The enclosure has been cleared to create an open space. The excavations found that the traces of the buildings which might have been used as turrets at the front, and the stone foundations of the building which could have been used as Nagayoshi Miyoshi’s Main Hall. You can enjoy the whole view of the plain including the tall buildings in Osaka City and the Ikoma Mountains where Imori Castle became Nagayoshi’s new home base after Akutagawa-san Castle.

The tall buildings in Osaka City can be seen

To be continued in “Akkutagawa-san Castle Part3”
Back to “Akutagawa-san Castle Part1”