Imoto Castle (Omi)

Imotojō is a clifftop earthworks castle ruin featuring dorui (earthen ramparts), karabori (dry moats), tatebori (climbing moats), and other earthworks. I believe I identified an umadashi (barbican) structure too. The shukuruwa (main bailey) is prominent because of the dorui surrounding it. The karab

History

Imotojō is said to have been one of the castles used by Shibata Katsuie to surround and besiege Namazue Castle, the castle of the Namazue Clan who supported the Rokkaku during Oda Nobunaga’s campaigns against them. Another such castle, located toward Namazuejō but very close to Imotojō was Oumi Nakato Castle. Nakatojō appears to have very little in way of remains, but Imotojō has much more. Imotojō was a hirayamajiro-gakejiro (clifftop castle) built on the northern terrace of the Echi River plain, with developed defensive features such as dry moats, ramparts and multiple baileys. So it seems more elaborate than a jinshiro (encampment used whilst besieging a castle) like Nakatojō, and so perhaps it was built before Oda Nobunaga’s invasion by the Ogura Clan who were dominant in Echi Distrct and built nearby Aoyamajō too. That would make Imotojō a satellite castle of Ogurajō before being taken over and used by Shibata Katsuie. That would also mean that Imotojō was likely attacked along with Ogurajō by the Rokkaku in 1570 during their punitive campaign against the Ogura for betraying them in their fight with Nobunaga.

Field Notes

Imotojō is a clifftop earthworks castle ruin featuring dorui (earthen ramparts), karabori (dry moats), tatebori (climbing moats), and other earthworks. I believe I identified an umadashi (barbican) structure too. The shukuruwa (main bailey) is prominent because of the dorui surrounding it. The karabori further surrounds it on three sides, excepting the cliff side, and the ends of the moat terminate there and become tatebori. The site is forested but decently maintained. It seems that the main hall of Kasuga Shrine has been built into the adjacent cliff side.

Gallery

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  Karabori (dry moat)
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  Karabori (dry moat)
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  Karabori (dry moat)
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  Earthworks
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  Bailey with dorui
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  Dorui
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  Dorui
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  Dorui (earthen ramparts)
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  Karabori (dry moat)

Castle Profile
English Name	Oumi Imoto Castle
Japanese Name	近江井本城
Founder	Ogura Clan; Shibata Katsuie
Year Founded	Sengoku Period
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Dorui, Tatebori, Karabori, Koguchi, Umadashi
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Yōkaichi Station on the Kotō-Ōmi Line; 10 minute drive or 70 minute walk
Hours	Free; 24/7; Forest
Time Required	30 minutes
Location	Higashi-Oumi, Shiga Prefecture
Coordinates	35.10408, 136.24961
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2021
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed
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