Shiozakishin Castle

The ruins of Shiozakishinjō, also called Akasawajō, are tough to explore and replete with mystery. I ascended the castle mount directly where the road ended, pulling my way up the slope through the bush without a trail. Emerging from this slog I immediately beheld a scene of desolation. The mountain

History

It seems Shiozakishinjō castle was a branch castle of Shiozaki Castle, "shin" here meaning "new", and involved in the series of battles surrounding Kawanakajima, particularly the last which centered around this area and directly involved it in various skirmishes. See my profile on Shiozaki Castle for more information. After 1582 Shiozakishinjō was abandoned when Sarashina Inariyama Castle was built on the plain below.

Field Notes

The ruins of Shiozakishinjō, also called Akasawajō, are tough to explore and replete with mystery. I ascended the castle mount directly where the road ended, pulling my way up the slope through the bush without a trail. Emerging from this slog I immediately beheld a scene of desolation. The mountain is crowned by hoary rockface, beneath which is spread the chaotic aftermath of collapsed masonry. Scrambling over these rocks I came to a cutting into the rock which formed a stolid trench. The castle's lower baileys were to the left. To the right, beyond some deformed earthwork trenches, was a forboding climb to the top of the cliff face. This bailey of the castle is now overgrown and difficult to access. Beyond here is a system of double trenches.

Gallery

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Castle Profile
English Name	Shiozakishin Castle
Japanese Name	塩崎新城
Alternate Names	赤沢城
Founder	Shiozaki Clan
Year Founded	Sengoku Period
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Horikiri, Kuruwa, Tatebori, Double Moats
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Inariyama Station on the Shinonoi Line; 25 minute walk
Hours	24/7 free; mountain
Time Required	40 minutes
Location	Nagano, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates	36.5413, 138.09944
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2020
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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