Berbican Enclosure with well remaining Stone Walls
Today, the ruins of Mino-Kaneyama Castle have been well developed as part of a natural park though no castle buildings remain. Many people visit the park to relax. If you visit there by car, you can park at the Berbican Enclosure on the mid slope of the mountain. Don’t forget to see the stone walls around the enclosure as they are only walls still intact in this castle. You will understand its reason once you climb up to the Main Enclosure.
The imaginary drawing of the whole Mino-Kaneyama Castle, exhibited by Sengoku Yamashiro Museum
the map around the castle
The imaginary drawing of the Barbican Enclosure in the past, from the signboard at the siteThe present Barbican EnclosureThe remaining stone walls of the Barbican Enclosure
Third Enclosure with trace of Castle destroyed
From the parking lot, you can first enter the Third Enclosure where you will see its stone walls partially collapsed. This is the trace of the castle being intentionally destroyed. No one would be able to build another castle on it and it could also be the sign that the castle had been abandoned. This enclosure has another entrance on the opposite side, which leads to the castle town, however, the route can’t be used now.
The entrance to the Third EnclosureThe imaginary drawing of the Third Enclosure in the past, from the signboard at the siteThe present Third Enclosure (gate ruins)The partially destroyed stone wallsThe other gate ruins
You can also see the partially remaining stone walls of the Second Enclosure above the Third Enclosure.
The imaginary drawing of the Second Enclosure in the past, from the signboard at the siteThe partially remaining stone walls of the Second Enclosure, seen from the Third EnclosureThe present Second Enclosure
Masugata, Important point for Defense
You can go further to the Belt Enclosure surrounding the Main Enclosure by passing the Second Enclosure. You will see many collapsed stones from past stone walls on the way there.
Going to the Belt EnclosureThe slopes of the Belt Enclosure, seen from the Second EnclosureMany collapsed stones on the way
The Belt Enclosure had a square defensive entrance called Masugata, with the Main Gate standing in front of it. That meant it was an important point for the castle to protect. You can now see the ruins of it with the front stone steps and some stone walls surrounding the square space. The ruins of the Second Gate are on the right side of the space and lead to the Main Enclosure.
The imaginary drawing of the Masugata Entrance in the past, from the signboard at the siteThe present Masugata EntranceThe ruins of the Second Gate
The ruins have become popular since the construction of the road.
Features
Parted Barbican
In fact, the ruins were partly destroyed and divided by the Daisan-Keihin Road. You can look at one of the barbicans over the road from the entrance of the Western Enclosure. You will have to go through the tunnel under the road to get there. The top of it is one of Fujizuka Mounds, called Fuji-sengen, made for worshiping Mt. Fuji since the Edo Period. It might had been a turret base before that. When you walk out of the ruins, you will get back to the city area right away.
The map around the castle
The Daisan-Keihin Road parting the ruinsClimbing the stairways after the tunnelThe Fujizuka Mounds on the barbicanyou will soon get back to the city area
Later History
After Kozukue Castle was abandoned, the local people have called the ruins Shiroyama or the Castle Mountain. The studies about the castle started as early as in the Edo Period. However, the ruins ironically became popular as a historic site since they were partly destroyed by the construction of the Daisan-keihin Road in 1963. Through that, Yokohama City launched the Kozukue Castle Ruins Forest to preserve them in 1977. People are now interested in what the castle was like in the past.
The ruins of Kozukue Castle and Daisan-Keihin Road
My Impression
I think Kozukue Castle is a good example of how to protect a castle with few defenders. I guess if a battle happened at Kozukue Castle when Hideyoshi invaded, this castle could survive at least over one night unlike Yamanaka Castle and Hachioji Castle.
The large dry moat in front of the Western Enclosure
How to get There
I recommend using a train when you visit the ruins because the park has no parking lot. It takes about 15 minutes on foot from JR Kozukue Station on the Yokohama Line.
Kozukue StationThe castle ruins seen from the platform of Kozukue Station
The Yokohama-Kamiasao Road (Kanagawa Prefectural Road 12) goes near the station, so turn right at the Kozukue Station Intersection and go along the street. Then, turn right at the Kozukuetsuji Intersection.
Turn right at the Kozukuetsuji Intersection
Go along the street again, cross the railway and turn left at the first intersection.
Cross the railwayTurn left right away
Go along the street in the residential area, and when you find the signpost for the ruins on the utility pole on the right, turn right. You will eventually arrive at the entrance of the ruins.
Turn right when you find the signpost on the utility pole (inside the red circle)The entrance of the ruins
The castle in the center of the popular Kozukue Territory
Location and History
Castle along one of Kamakura Roads
Kozukue Castle was located in what is now the northern hilly area in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. In the present Japan, Tokyo is the center of Japan including the Kanto Region. For that reason, many major roads gather in or spread from Tokyo. Some of them also go through the eastern seaside area of Yokohama City. However, before the Edo Period which started in the 17th Century, the center of the Kanto Region was Kamakura, called the Warriors’ Capital. Many major roads, called the Kamakura Roads, at that time also gathered in or spread from Kamakura. Kozukue Castle was near one of the Kamakura Roads and alongside Tsurumi-gawa River, which was an important spot for transportation.
The location of the castle
The present road network of the Kanto Region going to and from Tokyo (Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)The past road network of the Kanto Region going to and from Kamakura (Source: Tama City, adding the positions of Kozukue Castle and Kamakura)
“Kozukue Territory” and “Kozukue Group”
It is uncertain when Kozukue Castle was first built. The first appearance of the castle was after the Rebellion of Kageharu Nagao, who was against his master, the Uesugi Clan in 1478. The Toshima Clan who supported Kageharu used the castle, and Dokan Ota, a senior vassal of the Uesugi Clan beat them. After a while, the Hojo Clan, a great warlord used the castle again as a bridgehead for invading the Kanto Region in the 16th Century during the Sengoku Period. Even after the Hojo Clan was succeeded, they still considered the area around the castle as one of their important territories. They called the area “Kozukue Territory” like we call the area today, Yokohama City. They also called the group of the warriors who lived in the area “Kozukue Group”. Kozukue Castle was the center of the area and the group, and one of Hojo’s branch castles, which must have been more popular than we assume.
The portrait of Dokan Ota, owned by Daijiji Temple (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)The portrait of Ujitsuna Hojo, the lord of the clan when they invaded the Kanto Region, owned by Odawara Castle (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)
Castle has Simple Layout
Kozukue Castle was built on the edge of a hill sticking out from the south towards Tsurumi-gawa River to the north. The layout of the castle was simple, having the large Western and Eastern Enclosures, divided by the slender Connecting Enclosure. They were all made of soil. However, these enclosures were surrounded by large deep dry moats. What kinds of buildings stood on the enclosures is still uncertain, but it is thought that some turrets were built on the earthen bases. In addition, some barbicans were built along the hill around the main portion.
The relief map around the castle
The imaginary drawing of Kozukue Castle (from the signboard at the site, adding comments)
Development and Abolition of Castle
In 1590, when the ruler, Hideyoshi Toyotomi invaded Hojo’s territory for his unification of Japan, Hojo ordered their branch castles to gather the warriors to their home base, Odawara Castle. That meant the branch castles including Kozukue Castle had to protect themselves with fewer defenders. The lord of Kozukue Castle decided to draft farmers to protect it. It is thought that the dry moats of the castle were also developed making them larger and deeper to protect the castle with fewer warriors and untrained defenders. This is what we can now see as the ruins of the castle. However, no battles happened then. The castle was open and finally abandoned after Hojo surrendered to Hideyoshi.
The Portrait of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, attributed to Mitsunobu Kano, owned by Kodaiji Temple (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)The dry moat of Kozukue Castle
