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
Yamanaka Castle had been abandoned for a long time since the battle in 1590. In 1930, a descendant of Naosue Hitotsuyanagi made a plan for the historic site. As a result, the ruins were designated as a National Historic Site in 1934. In addition, Mishima City excavated the ruins and developed them as a historical park between 1972 and 1993. That’s why we can now enjoy visiting the park, learning history, and relaxing.
The dry moat called “Shoji-bori” and Mt. Fuji
My Impression
The development for the Yamanaka-jo Castle Park was completed in 1993, nearly 30 years ago. I think that this is one of the very early cases for historical parks in Japan. This can also be a good model for the historical parks for other castles which are now being developed. Basically, the western slope of the Hakone Barrier has been a perfect spot for viewing Mt. Fuji. If the weather is fine, you can get both views of the mountain and the castle ruins there.
A view of Mt. Fuji from the ruins
How to get There
If you want to visit there by car: From the east, it takes about 30 minutes from Hakoneguchi IC on Seisho Bypass. From the west, it takes about 40 minutes from Numazu IC on Tomei Expressway. The park offers a parking lot at the entrance. By bus, get on the Tokai Bus bound for Moto-Hakone-Ko from the south entrance of Mishima Station, and get off at the Yamanaka-Jo-Ato bus stop. To get to the Mishima Station from Tokyo: Take the Tokaido Shinkansen Super Express.
A beautiful historical park, now with a view of Mt. Fuji
Features
Third Enclosure as Entrance
Now, the ruins of Yamanaka Castle have been well developed and maintained as the Yamanaka-jo Castle Park by Mishima City, though the ruins have only earthen foundation. The entrance of the ruins is alongside the old Tokaido Road, and you can park at the parking lot inside when you visit the ruins by car. The entrance was also once that of the Third Enclosure which is now the town area. So, you will walk to the center of the castle by passing through the ruins of the moats for the enclosure. Most of the moats are dried, but part of them remains as a pond called “Tajiri-no-Ike”.
The map around the castle
The entrance of the castle ruinsThe dry moat of the Third EnclosureTajiri-no-Ike Pond
Second Enclosure as Pivot of Defense
From the pond, you have to walk up the stairs and winding slope to reach the Second Enclosure. The Second Enclosure was large and the connecting point with the center of the castle and the other parts. You can see good views of the area around, including Mt. Fuji from the enclosure. It is surrounded by high, thick earthen walls. It was the important point to protect the castle. Two more enclosures, including the North Enclosure, have been built to protect the Main Enclosure.
The slope to the Second EnclosureThe entrance of the Second EnclosureA view from the Second Enclosure
Main Enclosure as Center of Castle
You have to walk up more and across the bridge to the center of the castle, the Main Enclosure. The bridge, which is made of half wood and half earth, looks very interesting. The part of woods could be destroyed when a battle happened. The Main Enclosure is the highest place in the castle and has two tiers. It is thought that a high turret called “Tenshu Turret” stood on the upper tier. The enclosure is surrounded by deep valleys.
The slope to the Main EnclosureThe bridge made of half wood and half earthThe ruins of Tenshu Turret at the Main EnclosureThe dry mort surrounding the Main EnclosureThe North Enclosure
Group of Western Enclosures
On the west of the Second Enclosure, there are the West Enclosure and the West Turret over another small enclosure called the former West Turret. Though they were all connected by wooden bridges in the past, we can now go to these enclosures through wooden or earthen bridges. The West Turret is also a kind of enclosures, but once had buildings for defense as the frontline of the castle. Actually, the severe battle between Hojo and Toyotomi occurred there. Many of the latticed dry moats called Une-bori and Shoji-bori remain around the West Turret and the West Enclosure. They were originally deeper and the soil was exposed. The original surfaces have been buried and planted to protect them, as a result, the moats look very beautiful like a waffle with a great view of Mt. Fuji.
The group of western enclosuresGoing to the Former West TurretThe inside of the West EnclosureA view from the West EnclosureThe West TurretThe latticed dry moat called Shoji-bori between the West Enclosure and the West Turretthe latticed dry moat called Une-bori around the West Turret
Taizaki-demaru defense strongpoint, others
Going back to the entrance of the ruins, you can also visit Taizaki-Damaru defense strongpoint to the south. This is a long and gently sloped enclosure which is also surrounded by earthen walls and Une-bori dry moats. The severe battle also occurred there, but it has a good atmosphere to walk around now. It may be a good idea to have lunch with a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji. You can also walk on the stone pavement of the old Tokaido Road below Taizaki-Dmaru. If you have time, I recommend that you visit the Sokan-ji Temple in the former Third Enclosure town area. There is the tomb of Naosue Hitotsuyanagi, a Hideyoshi’s commander, together with other tombs of Hojo’s soldiers.
Taizaki-Damaru defense strongpointA view from Taizaki-Damaru defense strongpointthe latticed dry moat called Une-bori at Taizaki-Damaru defense strongpointA view of Mt. FujiThe stone pavement of the old Tokaido RoadThe old Tokaido Road through the Third EnclosureThe tomb of Naosue Hitotsuyanagi
