タグ: Matsuo town

179.Kagomori Castle Part3

A great leaning opportunity for visitors and local people

Later History

The full-scale research of Kagomori Castle started in 1991. The excavation team found that the castle had been improved during its long history and it still has some mysteries like whether or not it had a Main Tower. After that, the ruins were designated as a National Historic Site in 1997. Based on the results of the research, Matsuno Town has been developing the castle ruins as a historical site since 1999. For example, some castle buildings were eventually restored in the Main, Western 10th, and Kojo Enclosures. Some earthen walls were also restored, but part of them was built lower than the original in order to accommodate better viewing.

The Main Enclosure
The restored barrack at the Western 10th Enclosure
The earthen walls of the Western 10th Enclosure were restored, but part of them was intentionally built lower
The Kojo Enclosure

The town also carries out other businesses using the castle ruins. For instance, local primary school children learn about the castle in the school’s outdoor classes at the site. The children that visit this castle can make their own theory after reading the detailed information which is easy for visitors to understand.

Some explanation panels by the children are exhibited at the barrack

My Impression

I was very impressed by the explanation panels the local children made at the site. I think the contents of the panels are very useful for visitors as well as for local society. The children and other local people can know about the castle and its local history through this activity. Moreover, the children will be proud of their home town and be more willing to tell people in other areas about the castle when they get older. I also believe every castle has its own unique features because every castle was built under different times, regions and situations.

This is the explanation panel for the well
The ditch between at the Kojo Enclosure

How to get There

If you want to visit the ruins by car, it is about 15 km away from Mima IC on the Matsuyama Expressway. The castle ruins offer a parking lot.
By public transportation, it takes about 15 minutes on foot from the JR Matsumaru Station on the Yodo Line.
If you go there from Tokyo or Osaka, I recommend traveling by plane or using an express bus.

That’s all. Thank you.
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179.Kagomori Castle Part2

You can enjoy a mountain castle safely.

Features

Unique Natural terrain

Today, the ruins of Kagomori Castle have been re-developed for visitors. If you drive to the ruins, you can park at the south of the mountain, which is below the upside-down U shape. After that, you can first walk to the bottom of the valley called Furogadani, which is likely the inside of the U shape. You will probably feel like you are entirely surrounded by the ridges of the mountain, which has very unique terrain. You can still see the well of the castle, filled with water, but probably can not be consumed now.

The aerial photo around the castle

Going to Furogadani Valley
The well of the castle, quoted from the website of Matsuno Town
The beginning of the path

Enclosures are in line on U shape Ridge

Visitors typically climb up to the western edge of the U shape from the valley through the steep zigzagged trail. You will reach the Western 10th Enclosure, which is approximately 70m above the bottom of the valley. There is the restored gate, a barrack with horse stable and earthen walls, thanks to the results from the excavations. The excavation team also discovered that the enclosure had the hall turrets, which was called Tamon-Yagura, beside the earthen walls. From there, you can see the area around including the Shinjo Enclosure, which is located on the opposite edge of the U shape. Overall, this enclosure was the pivot point of the castle.

Closing to the Western 10th Enclosure
The restored gate
The Western 10th Enclosure
The horse stable part of the barrack
A view from the Western 10th Enclosure

If you want to get closer to the center of the castle, the Main Enclosure, you will have to go through as many as eight enclosures. Each enclosure is small, but all are in a line on the long and the narrow ridge of the mountain. These enclosures were divided by artificial ditches called Horikiri. The route to the Main Enclosure is much narrower and goes along the side of these enclosures. If enemies were to attack the castle using this route, they would have found it very challenging. However, visitors today can walk on the same route safely because steps and bridges were installed.

The steps and bridge installed on the trail
The trail goes beside the enclosures
One of the artificial ditches

Main Enclosure, Center of Castle

When you reach the entrance of the Main Enclosure, you will find some remaining stone walls. They are part of the alternative entrance called Koguchi, which replaced the old ditch in the later stage of the castle. The Main Enclosure is on the top of the mountain (approximately 90m from the foot) and the center of the U shape ridge. From here, you can enjoy views of Matsuno Town in the north and both edges of the ridges, the Sinjo Enclosure and the Western 10th Enclosure you passed through. This was ideal for the headquarters.

The Main Enclosure
A view of Matsuo Town
A view of the Western 10th Enclosure from the Mian Enclosure
A view of the Shinjo Enclosure from the Mian Enclosure

There are also some restored pillars and floor of the Main Hall to show visitors its layout based on the excavation. It was thought that this is where the lord lived and some ceremonies were held in the same hall. In addition, relics like stone foundations and rooftiles, which might have been used for the Main Tower, were discovered in the enclosure.

The partially restored pillars and floor of the Main Hall

To be continued in “Kagomori Castle Part3”
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