The castle for the western defense of the Hojo Clan
Location and History
Western Defense for Hojo Clan
Yamanaka Castle was located on the west of Hakone Barrier, the western gateway of Kanto Region, now in the eastern part of Shizuoka Prefecture. The castle was first built in the middle 16th Century during the Sengoku Period by the Hojo Clan, who owned Kanto Region. The clan aimed to protect their home base, Odawara Castle on the eastern side of Hakone Barrier, by building Yamanaka Castle. This castle was also improved before the ruler, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, attacked the Hojo Clan in 1590.
The location of the castle
Yamanaka Castle was built surrounding the Tokaido Road, one of the major roads in Japan. During that time, if someone walked up the slope on the road from the west, it would require passing through the castle. The road was actually on the Third Enclosures of the castle, and beside the Main Enclosure. The Third Enclosure also had water moats on the west to prevent enemies’ attacks and was for the water reservoir. On the south of the Third Enclosure, a long defense strongpoint called “Taizaki-demaru” spread with the road parallelly. On the west of the Third Enclosure, the Second Enclosure, the West Enclosure, and the West Turret were added towards that direction. These enclosures were able to work closely to prevent attacks from enemy forces.
The location map of the ruins of Yamanaka Castle (from the signboard at the site)
Hojo’s Unique Methods for building Castle
The techniques used in the castle were unique to the Hojo Clan. All the enclosures were made of earthworks, using natural terrain such as ridges and valleys. They were mainly connected by wooden bridges which could fall down when a battle happened. They were also divided by deep dry moats whose bottoms were left parallel or as latticed ridges. The method for building the moats is called “Une-bori” for the parallel ridges and “Shoji-bori” for the latticed ridges. These dry moat building methods are considered features of the Hojo’s castles. Once soldiers fell into the moat, they couldn’t move from there at all. The area of the castle reached about 200,000 square meters. Hojo thought the castle could make Hideyoshi stuck for a while.
“Une-bori” for the parallel ridges“Shoji-bori” for the latticed ridges
Fall in Battle of Yamanaka Castle
However, the castle was captured by Hideyoshi in just half a day. In the early morning, March 29, 1590, nearly 70,000 soldiers of Hideyoshi’s troop started to attack the castle, while the number of the defenders was only about 4,000. The attackers first charged both the West Turret and the Taizaki-Demaru defense strongpoint, but they suffered a significant number of casualties by the counterattack of Hojo’s guns. If it was a local battle, the attacker might have paused the charge to prevent more damages. However, the commanders forcibly continued to charge, otherwise, they might have been fired by the ruler. That resulted in the success of capturing the castle for Hideyoshi in exchange for a lot of dead soldiers including one of the Hideyoshi’s commander, Naosue Hitotsuyanagi.
The Portrait of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, attributed to Mitsunobu Kano, ownd by Kodaiji Temple (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)
This battle lasted for a few hours. It is said that another reason for the short battle was that Hojo’s soldiers were confused because their head, Ujikatsu Hojo, escaped from the castle. Others point out that the Taizaki-Demaru defense strongpoint was unfinished in construction before Hideyoshi’s attack. Anyway, even such a strong castle couldn’t survive without enough soldiers and the right instructions.
安東氏が最盛期のときの城
The castle when the Ando clan was its peak
立地と歴史～Location and History
舟運で繁栄した出羽国～Dewa Province Prospering by Ships
近代以前、大量輸送は船によって行われましたが、海上での航海は危険でした。船が十分発達していなかったからです。日本の場合、中世においては、商業船は主には太平洋ではなく、瀬戸内海や日本海などの内海を航行していました。そのため、当時は内海沿いの大きな港をもつ地域が繫栄しました。出羽国（現在の秋田、山形県を合わせた範囲）はそのような地域でした。 Before the Modern times, mass transportation was done by ships, but sailing on ocean could be dangerous because ships were not developed enough. In the case of Japan, in the Middle Ages, merchant ships sailed mainly on islands seas, such as the Seto Island Sea and the Japan Sea, not on the Pacific Ocean. For this reason, areas with a large port along the island seas prospered at that time. Dewa Province (combining what is now Akita and Yamagata Prefectures) was one such areas.
1860年代の日本古来の弁財船～Traditional Japanese junks in 1860s （licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons）
秋田で力をつけた安東氏～Ando Clan has power at Akita
安東氏は、北出羽（大体今の秋田県）を根拠地として海上交通を支配して大きな勢力となりました。戦国時代（日本中の地方大名が覇権をめぐって争った時代）には安東氏は、檜山安東氏と湊安東氏の２つのグループに分かれていました。檜山安東氏は北秋田にあった檜山城に住み、湊安東氏は南秋田にあった湊城を拠点としていました。 The Ando Clans had a great power to manage the marine transportation based in the north Dewa (roughly now Akita Prefecture). In the “Sengoku” Period- a period when local clans around Japan were fighting for control over all of the country- the Ando Clans was divided into two groups namely the Hiyama-Ando Clan and the Minato-Ando Clan. The Hiyama-Ando Clan lived in Hiyama Castle which was located on the northern part of Akita, while the Minato-Ando Clan lived in Minato Castle located on the southern part of Akita.
城の位置～The location of the castle
安東愛季は、最初は檜山安東氏の総領でしたが、湊安東氏に固有の跡継ぎがいなかったため、取り込むことに成功しました。彼は、秋田全域を統治することで最も有力な戦国大名の一人になったのです・ Chikasue Ando was at first the lord of the Hiyama-Ando, but was able to take over the Minato-Ando as it didn’t have its own successor. As a result, he ruled over the entire Akita and became known as one of the greatest warlords.
安東愛季の肖像画、東北大学附属図書館蔵～The portrait of Chikasue Ando, owned by Tohoku University Library （licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons）
愛季は1577年、彼の本拠地を檜山城と湊城の間にある城に移しました。彼が選んだ城が脇本城だったのです。この城は最初は１５世紀に築かれたと言われていますが、その後愛季が東日本では有数の規模の山城にまで拡張しました（約１５０ヘクタール）。この城は、男鹿半島の根元にある１００ｍの高さの丘の上に築かれ、重要な商業港であった土崎湊の近くでもありました。また、主要道路の「天下道」が城の中を通っているため、非常に戦略的な立地であり、城の領主は完全に交通を制御することができました。 Chikasue moved his home base to a castle located between Hiyama and Minato Castles in 1577. The castle that he chose was the Wakimoto Castle. The castle is said to be first built in the 15th century, then Chikasue developed the castle as one of the largest mountain castles in eastern Japan (about 150 hectare). The castle was located on a 100m high hill in the connecting part of Oga Peninsula, near an important trading port called Tsuchizaki-minato. This location proved to be very strategic as a main road called “Tenga-michi” ran between the two sides of the castle giving the Lord full control over transportation.
遺跡の全体図、現地案内板より～The whole map of the ruins, from the signboard at the site
愛季は支配者として絶頂期にあって、領土を拡張する一方、織田信長といった外の有力戦国大名とは手紙や贈り物により親交を深めました。ところが、1587年の戦いのさ中、彼は突然の病に倒れ、亡くなってしまいます。彼の息子、実季は湊城に住み、最終的には1602年に徳川幕府により関東地方に移されてしまいました。脇本城はそれから廃城となってしまったようです。 Chikasue was at the peak of his career as an administrator expanding his territory and building relationship with other great warlords such as Nobunaga Oda by sending letters and gifts. However, during a battle in 1587 he suddenly fell ill and died. His son, Sanesue lived in Minato Castle and was lastly transferred to Kanto Region by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1602. Wakimoto Castle seemed to be abandoned since then.
安東実季木造、羽賀寺蔵～The wooden statue of Sanesue Ando, owned by Haga-ji Temple （licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons）
特徴～Features
城跡へ登っていく～Walking up to Castle Ruins
現在、脇本城跡は今もって非常に広大であり、５つの地区に分けられています。しかしながら、５つの地区全てが等しく整備されているわけではありません。そこで、私の訪問時には、一番整備されている「内館」１箇所を見学しました。ここは城の中心部分であり、現在はより整備されていて、観光客が訪れやすいようになっています。 Now, the ruins of Wakimoto Castle are still very large, and they are divided into five areas. However, not all the 5 areas have been developed equally. So, when I visited, I covered the one that was most developed which is “Uchidate”. This was the main portion of the castle, and now is further developed for tourists to visit easily.
城周辺の航空写真～The aerial photo of around the castle
城跡の入口は国道１０１号線沿いにあります。車で来られた方のために駐車場があります。そこから城跡への道を登っていく必要がありますが、それはかつてからある「天下道」の一部分です。更に進んで城跡の案内所を過ぎると、丘の頂上部分が見えてきます。 The entrance of the ruins is alongside National Route 101. You can park at a parking lot if you are driving. Then, you need to walk up the road to the ruins which was part of the old road, “Tenga-michi”. When you go farther passing through the guide house of the ruins, you will see the top of the hill.
城跡の入口～The entrance of the castle ruins残っている「天下道」～The remaining “Tenga-michi” road案内所を越えて頂上へ～Passing the guide house to the top
生鼻崎周辺～Around Oihana-saki Cape
基本的に、戦国時代の東日本では、城の基礎部分は土造りでした。城跡には建物はありませんが、土塁、空堀、虎口などが残っています。丘の頂上に登ってみると、左手（西の方角）には、海に突き出ている「生鼻崎」という岬の上にたくさんの曲輪があるのがわかります。それらの曲輪は岬の先端に向かって列を作って並んでいます。実はかつてはもっと多くの曲輪が岬と共に海に伸びていたのですが、江戸時代の地震のときに崩壊してしまいました。歴史家はこれらの曲輪は安東氏の家臣の屋敷地として使われたのではないかとしています。岬の先端では、日本海の荒々しい姿が見えます。 Basically, the foundations of the castles, in eastern Japan during the Sengoku Period, were made out of soil. The ruins have no buildings, instead they have earthen walls, dry moats, entrances, etc. When you climb on top of the hill, you will see a lot of enclosures on a cape called “Oibana-saki”, sticking out to the sea on the left on the west direction. You can see that these enclosures are in lines towards the top of the cape. In fact, there were many more enclosures with the cape spread to the sea in the past, but they collapsed when an earthquake happened in the Edo Period. Historians speculate that they were used for the Ando clan’s retainers’ houses. At the top of the cape, you can also have a wild view of the Japan Sea.
内館地区の地図、現地案内板に注記～The map of Uchidate Area, from the signboard at the site, adding notes岬に伸びる曲輪～The enclosures spreading to the cape生鼻崎周辺の想像図、現地案内板より～The imaginary drawing around Oibana-saki Cape, from the signboard at the site日本海の眺め～A view of the Japan Sea
城の中心部分～Center of Castle
道の反対側の東の方向には、空堀に囲まれたもっと大きな曲輪があります。この辺りが、城の中心地であったと考えられます。歴史家は、北側には別々の目的で作られた２つの建物があったと推定しています。一つは公式の儀式で使われた「主殿」という建物で、もう一つはお客をもてなす「会所」という建物です。 There are two larger enclosures surrounded by dry moats on the opposite side of the route on the east direction. They are supposed to be the center of the castle. Historians also speculate that two buildings on the northern side were used for other purposes. For example one of them was used as the building for the public ceremonies called “Shuden’ and the other for hosting the guests called “Kaisho”.
城の中心部分～The center of the castle空堀～The dry moat北側の曲輪～The north enclosure中心部の想像図、現地案内板より～The imaginary drawing around the center, from the signboard at the site
もう一つの南側の曲輪は高くて太い土塁に囲まれており、これもまたとても大きいものです。ここには城主の館があったと考えられています。愛季が住んでいたのでしょうか。この曲輪からは、海岸線とかつては城下町であった街並みの素晴らしい景色が望めます。 The other southern enclosure is surrounded by high thick earthen walls, and it is also very large one. This is thought to be used as the house of the lord. I wonder if Chikasue lived in it. From the enclosure, you can also have a great view of the coast line and the town which was once the castle town.
土塁に囲まれた南側の曲輪～The south enclosure surrounded by the earthen walls海岸線の景色～A view of the coast line
その後～Later History
江戸時代の1804年、有名な旅行家の菅江真澄が脇本城の城跡を訪れています。彼は日記に城跡のことを記録し、スケッチも残しました。1993年からは調査が行われており、この城が非常に大きな規模であったことがわかりました。そのため、城跡は2004年に国の史跡に指定されました。 In 1804 of the Edo Period, a famous traveler, Masumi Sugae visited the ruins of Wakimoto Castle. He recorded the ruins on his diary and left his sketches of them. Investigations have been done since 1993 and it was found out that the castle had a huge scale. Because of it, the ruins were designated as a National Historic Site in 2004.
菅江真澄の脇本城のスケッチ、現地案内板より～One of Sugae’s sketches for Wakimoto Castle, from the signboard at the site
私の感想～My Impression
私が脇本城跡に行ったときは、ひどい天気でした。更に「内館」地区しか行っていません。それでもこの城跡が大変な規模だということは言えます。もし晴れた日に十分時間が取れれば、もっと城跡を満喫できると思います。他の有名な城に比べてこの城の研究は始まったばかりです。この城から新たな発見がもたらされるのが楽しみです。 When I visited the ruins of Wakimoto Castle, the weather was very bad. In addition, I saw only one area called “Uchidate”, but I was able to witness the large scale of the ruins. If you have enough time to visit the ruins in a fine day, you can enjoy them more! I think the study for the castle have just started compared with other famous castles. I will be looking forward to seeing the new discovery from the castle.
岬側からの城跡の風景～A view of the castle ruins from the cape
ここに行くには～How to get There
車で行く場合：秋田自動車道昭和男鹿ICから約３０分かかります。城跡の入口に駐車場があります。 電車の場合、ＪＲ男鹿線脇本駅から城跡まで歩いて約３０分かかります。 東京から脇本駅まで：新幹線に乗り、秋田駅で男鹿線に乗り換えてください。 If you want to go there by car: It takes about 30 minutes from the Showa-Oga IC on Akita Expressway. There is a parking lot at the entrance of the ruins. By train, It takes about 30 minutes from Wakimoto Station on JR Oga line to the ruins on foot. From Tokyo to Wakimoto Station: Take the Shinkansen super express and transfer to Oga line at Akita Station.
リンク、参考情報～Links and References
・脇本城跡、男鹿市観光協会（Oga city tourism association） ・「日本の城改訂版第１５０号」デアゴスティーニジャパン（Japanese Book） ・「土崎港（秋田港）の「みなと文化」／渡辺英夫」（Japanese Paper）
佐竹氏による土造りの城
The castle made of earth by the Satake Clan
立地と歴史～Location and History
佐竹氏が新しく作った城～New Castle Satake Clan built
佐竹氏は古代の終わり頃から常陸国（現在の茨城県）を拠点としてきました。１６世紀後半、彼らは水戸城に住み、その領土は５４万８千石もの石高に相当しました（その当時の日本で８番目の大大名）。ところが、１６０２年に徳川幕府により東北地方の秋田に移されてしまいます。１６００年に起こった関ヶ原の戦いにおいて、幕府をはっきりとは支持しなかったからです。その領土は２０万石まで削減されましたが、新しい土地で新しい城を築くことを決心しました。それが久保田城でした。 The Satake Clan had been based in Hitachi Province (what is now Ibaraki Prefecture) since around the end of the Ancient times. In the late 16th century, they lived in Mito Castle and their territory was worth as much as an earning of 548 thousand Koku in rice (the 8th largest lord in Japan at that time). However, they were transferred to Akita in Tohoku Region by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1602, as they didn`t firmly support the Shogunate when Battle of Sekigahara happened in 1600. The size of their territory was reduced (to 200 thousand Koku in rice), but they decided to build their new castle in the new land. This was Kubota Castle.
城の位置～The location of the castle
お家芸だった土の城～Building Castles of earth was their Specialty
久保田城は、旭川沿いの標高４０ｍの神明山の上に築かれました。この城には天守はなく、ほとんどが土造りによるものでした。その理由としては、佐竹氏には石垣や天守を作る技術がなかったからとか、幕府の権威を恐れたためと言われてきました。佐竹氏が秋田に移った当時は、他の大名たちにとっては、石垣と天守がある城を作るのが普通でした。しかしながら、土造りの城を作ることは佐竹氏のお家芸だったのです。その証拠として、水戸城も挙げられます。佐竹氏はそこで技術を進化させ、佐竹氏の後の徳川氏はその土造りの城を最後まで使い続けました。佐竹氏は土造りだけで強力な城を作ることができたのです。 Kubota Castle was built on a 40m high mountain called Shinmei-yama alongside Asahigawa River. The castle was almost all made of earthworks with no Main Tower. It has been said that the reason for it is that Satake had no ability and techniques for building stone walls and a Main Tower, or they feared the Shogunate`s authority. In the same period as Satake moved to Akita, it was usual for other lords to build a castle with stone walls and a Main Tower. However, building a castle of earthworks was the specialty of the Satake Clan. There is evidence also with Mito Castle, Satake Clan improved this technique, and it was used by the Tokugawa Clan following Satake as a castle of earthworks till the end. That meant Satake could build a strong castle using only earthworks.
土造りの水戸城～Mito Castle made of earthworks
自然地形を生かした巧みな配置～Clever Arrangement using Natural Terrain
城の中心部は、内堀に囲まれ、二段になっていました。上段は「本丸」であり、下段は「二の丸」になっていました。中心部の周りは「三の丸」となっていて、外堀に囲まれていました。更には、三の丸の外側且つ川の内側には「西曲輪」「北の丸」が設置されていました。本丸には御殿があり、領主が住んでいました。本丸には５つの門がありましたが、外部からは二の丸を通らなけらば行けないようになっていました。佐竹氏は、自然の地形を生かしながら巧みな配置を行い、２０年以上の工事の後、城を完成させました。 The center of the castle had two tiers, surrounded by the inner moat. The upper tier was called “Honmaru” or the Main Enclosure, and the lower tier was called “Ninomaru” or the Second Enclosure. Around the center, there was “Sannnomaru” or the Third Enclosure, surrounded by the outer moat. In addition, “Nishikuruwa” or the Western Enclosure and “Kitanomaru” or the Northern Enclosure were placed outside the Third Enclosure inside the river. The Main Enclosure had the Main Hall where the lord lived, and four turrets instead of the Main Tower. It also had five gates, but anyone from the outside the castle had to go through the Second Enclosure to reach it. Satake complete the castle with clever arrangement and using natural terrain after over 20 year construction.
出羽国秋田郡久保田城画図部分、江戸時代～Part of the illustration of Kubota Castle in Akita District, Dewa Province, the Edo Period（出典：国立公文書館）
佐竹氏は江戸時代の期間中、久保田藩を統治しましたが、その支配は安定しませんでした。秋田は強風地帯であり、藩の民衆は風害による飢饉や、洪水や風雨による被害に苦しみました。これらにより一揆が頻発し、藩は予算不足に陥りました。久保田城も度々火災に見舞われますが、その都度再建されました。 Satake governed their Kubota Domain all through the Edo Period, but their governance was not stable. Akita was a very windy area, so the people of the Domain suffered several famines from dry winds, flood and water damage. It often caused riots, as a result, the Domain lacked resources. Kubota Castle also suffered fires, but was repaired and restored each time.
最後の藩主、佐竹義堯の銅像、千秋公園～The statue of Yoshitaka Satake, the last lord of Kubota Domain
特徴～Features
城周辺の航空写真～The aerial photo of around the castle
城跡の千秋公園へ～To Senshu Park as Castle Ruins
現在、久保田城跡は千秋公園となっています。観光客は通常南から中土橋を通って現存する外堀を渡って三の丸や二の丸に向かいます。過去は東側にある黒門が城の正門でした。二の丸には広い敷地があり、かつては官庁や倉庫などの建物がありました。佐竹史料館では、久保田藩や佐竹氏に関する展示を行っています。 Now, the ruins of Kubota Castle has become Senshu Park. Visitors usually go across the remaining Outer Moat through Nakadobashi Bridge on the south to the Third and Second Enclosures. In the past, Kuro-mon Gate on the east was the front entrance of the castle. The Second Enclosure has a large space where buildings such as offices and warehouses were built. Satake Historical Museum exhibits the histories of Kubota Domain and the Satake Clan.
外堀～The Outer Moat城に向かう道～The road to the castle黒門跡～The ruins of Kuro-mon Gate二の丸～The Second Enclosure
本丸への長い坂～Long Slope to Main Enclosure
本丸へは、「長坂」と呼ばれる長く曲がりくねった階段を通って登っていきます。この場所はとても重要だったため、一部石垣が使われています。「長坂門」という門がちょうど曲がっている箇所に立っていました。階段を登り切った所には、本丸の正門である表門が復元されています。門の傍らには「御物頭御番所」という警護所が城で唯一の現存建物として残っています。 You can walk up to the Main Enclosure through a long and curved stairways called “Nagasaka” or the Long Slope. Stone walls have been partly used, as this spot was very important. A gate called “Nagasaka-mon” stood at the curved part. At the end of the stairways, Omote-mon Gate, the front gate of the Main Enclosure has been restored. There is the guardhouse called “Omono-gashira Gobansho” which is the only remaining building in the castle beside the gate.
長坂～The Long Slope長坂門跡～The ruins of Nagasaka-mon Gate復元された表門～The restored Omote-mon Gate現存している御物頭御番所～The remaining guardhouse
土造りの本丸～Main Enclosure made with Earthworks
本丸の中心には神社と最後の領主の銅像があります。城のようには見えないかもしれませんが、本丸を歩き回ってみれば、城の基礎は土だけですが、とても頑丈にできていることがわかると思います。櫓の一つ、御隅櫓が曲輪の北西角に再建されています。見晴らしをよくするために、元あったものより高く作られています。本丸にはいくつか出入口があるので、登ったり降りたりしてみると、この城がいかに自然の地形をうまく生かしているかが見て取れるでしょう。 The center of the Main Enclosure has a shrine and the statue of the lord of the castle. It may not look like a castle, however if you walk around the Enclosure, you can find the foundation of the castle is made of only earth, but strongly. One of the turrets, Osumi-yagura Turret has been rebuilt at the northwest corner of the Enclosure. It is built much higher than the original one for viewing. The Enclosure has several entrances such as the Back Gate, so you can also walk up and down enjoying how the castle uses natural terrain cleverly.
本丸～The Main Enclosure再建された御隅櫓～The rebuilt Osumi-Yagura Turret裏門跡～The ruins of the Back Gate本丸の土塁～The earthen walls of the Main Enclosure
その後～Later History
明治維新後、久保田城は１８７２年に秋田県庁舎となりました。この城はまた、秋田県と秋田市の始まりともなったのです。ところが、１８８０年にほとんどの城の建物は燃えてしまいます。１８９０年になって以前の領主、佐竹氏が城跡を買い上げ、秋田市に土地を公園として貸し出し、千秋公園と名付けられました。久保田藩の元藩士たちは１８９２年に公園に桜の苗を寄付しました。そのため、公園は桜の花でも有名になっています。 After the Meiji Restoration, Kubota Castle became the Akita prefectural office in 1872. That meant the castle also was the origin of Akita Prefecture and Akita City. However, most of the castle buildings were burned down in 1880. In 1890, the former lord, Satake Clan bought the castle ruins and lent the land to Akita City as a park named Senshu Park. Former warriors of the Kubota Domain donated cherry plants for the park in 1892, so that’s why the park has also become famous for its cherry blossoms.
御隅櫓と桜～Osumi-Yagura Turret with cherry blossoms（licensed by アラツク via Wikimedia Commons）
私の感想～My Impression
久保田城跡は、かつて近代公園として整備されたため、単なる公園としてしか見えないかもしれません。城跡の基礎部分をよく見れば、本当は土でできた城だとも気付いていただけると思います。この城と、これも佐竹氏が築いた水戸城とを比べてみるのもいいでしょう。秋田県は今、かつては苦しめられた風が強い気候を生かし、風力発電を推進しています。一方、現職（２０２１年３月現在）の秋田県知事は佐竹氏の子孫の方です。秋田は、伝統と革新の両方を重んじているようです。 You may find the ruins of Kubota Castle just like a park, because they were once developed as a modern park. You can also find the ruins was really a castle made of earth if you look at the foundation of the ruins carefully. It may be a good idea to compare this castle with Mito Castle that the Satake Clan built as well. Akita Prefecture is now developing lots of wind farms using the windy climate that they suffered from in the past. On the other hand, the governor of Akita Prefecture right now (Mar2021) is a descendant of the Satake Clan. I think Akita is trying to take good care of both tradition and innovation.
本丸に登る小径～The trail to the Main Enclosure秋田県の風力発電所～A wind farm in Akita Prefecture（licensed by 8-Forest via Wikimedia Commons）
ここに行くには～How to get There
城跡までは、ＪＲ秋田駅西口から歩いて約１０分です。 東京から秋田駅まで：秋田新幹線に乗ってください。 車で行く場合：秋田自動車道の秋田中央ICから約２０分です。千秋公園に駐車場があります。 It takes about 10 minutes from the west entrance of JR Akita station to the castle ruins on foot. From Tokyo to Akita st.: Take the Akita Shinkansen super express. If you want to go there by car: It takes about 20 minutes from the Akita-Chuo IC on Akita Expressway. Senshu Park offers a parking lot
リンク、参考情報～Links and References
・久保田城、秋田市公式サイト（Akita City Official Website） ・「よみがえる日本の城９」学研（Japanese Book） ・「日本の城改訂版第６０号」デアゴスティーニジャパン（Japanese Book）
