Ohhara Castle: Difference between revisions

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{{Castle
{{Castle
|English Name=Oohara Castle
|English Name=Ohhara Castle
|Japanese Name=大原城
|Japanese Name=大原城
|Romaji Name=Oohara-jo
|Romaji Name=Ohhara-jo
|Founder=Oohara Clan
|Alternate Names=Ohhara Kazuma Yashiki
|Year Founded=In the Muromachi Period (1338 to 1573)
|Founder=Ohhara Clan
|Castle Type=Flatland
|Year Founded=Muromachi Period (1338 to 1573)
|Castle Type=Fortified Manor
|Castle Condition=Ruins only
|Castle Condition=Ruins only
|Historical Period=Pre Edo Period
|Historical Period=Pre Edo Period
|Features=trenches, stone walls
|Features=trenches, stone walls
|Access=Koka Sta (Kusatsu Line), 10 min walk
|Access=Koka Sta. (JR Kusatsu Line), 10 min walk
|Visitor Information=private residence
|Visitor Information=private residence
|Time Required=20 minutes
|Time Required=20 minutes
|City=Koka
|City=Koka
|Prefecture=Shiga Prefecture
|Prefecture=Shiga Prefecture
|Notes=Oohara Castle Ruin is one of the many tiny fortifications that dot the countryside in the Koka Region of Shiga Prefecture. As far as I know, this castle ruin is only briefly mentioned in one locally published castle book about castles in Shiga. This castle ruin is about 10 minutes walk from JR Koka Station. The earthen ramparts and moat which ring the main bailey are pretty much intact. However, unlike other bigger and more popular castle sites in Shiga, this castle ruin is not signposted, and the main bailey is someone’s private residence. It is not open to the public.
|Notes=Ohhara Castle is a [[Koka Castles|yakatajiro]] protected by earthen ramparts on four sides with two koguchi (gates) on its northern and southern sides. In modern times, a third entrance has been opened up on the eastern side for vehicular entry. The earthen ramparts were ringed by a water moat on three sides (east, west, and north). It is now just a shallow dry moat. Looking at old maps and the layout of houses and roads today, it is surmised that the area around the castle may have also had a similar design to that of [[Ue Castle (Koka)|Ue Castle]] or [[Kuraji Castle (Koka)|Kuraji Castle]].
<p>
 
Photos and profile by RaymondW.</p>
The earthen ramparts and moat which ring the main bailey are mostly intact. However, unlike other bigger and more popular castle sites in Shiga, this castle ruin is not signposted, and the main bailey is someone’s private residence. It is not open to the public.
|History=This small flatland castle was built by the Oohara Clan, one of the major clans in the Koka Region. It is a square fortification protected by earthen ramparts on four sides with two koguchi (gates) on its northern and southern sides. In modern times, a third entrance has been opened up on the eastern side for vehicular entry. The earthen ramparts were ringed by a water moat on three sides (east, west, and north). It is now just a shallow dry moat.
|History=This small flatland castle was the residence of the Ohhara Clan, one of the major clans in the Koka Region. It is not an ideal location for defense because it has no natural defenses besides the earthen ramparts and is actually a slightly lower elevation than the surroundings. The key advantage of this site is actually to control trade and transportation due to it's proximity to two rivers and the road to Iga. The Ohhara lands were confiscated by Hideyoshi in 1585 in his actions to break up the Koka allied families. See [[Koka Castles]] for more details.
|Year Visited=Viewer Contributed
|Year Visited=Viewer Contributed
|AddedJcastle=2013
|AddedJcastle=2013
|GPSLocation=34.89678, 136.21618
|GPSLocation=34.89678, 136.21618
|rating_average=1.0
|Contributor=RaymondW
|castleElev=198
|Castle Collection=Koka Castles
|ekiLatLng=34.901291,136.212753
|ekiElev=199
|elevChange=-1
|kamon=oohara.jpg
|kamonFam=Oohara
|adminRating=1
|oldID=261
}}
}}

Latest revision as of 18:43, 11 May 2025

Ohhara Castle is a yakatajiro protected by earthen ramparts on four sides with two koguchi (gates) on its northern and southern sides. In modern times, a third entrance has been opened up on the eastern side for vehicular entry. The earthen ramparts were ringed by a water moat on th

Oohara8.jpg

History

This small flatland castle was the residence of the Ohhara Clan, one of the major clans in the Koka Region. It is not an ideal location for defense because it has no natural defenses besides the earthen ramparts and is actually a slightly lower elevation than the surroundings. The key advantage of this site is actually to control trade and transportation due to it's proximity to two rivers and the road to Iga. The Ohhara lands were confiscated by Hideyoshi in 1585 in his actions to break up the Koka allied families. See Koka Castles for more details.


Field Notes

Ohhara Castle is a yakatajiro protected by earthen ramparts on four sides with two koguchi (gates) on its northern and southern sides. In modern times, a third entrance has been opened up on the eastern side for vehicular entry. The earthen ramparts were ringed by a water moat on three sides (east, west, and north). It is now just a shallow dry moat. Looking at old maps and the layout of houses and roads today, it is surmised that the area around the castle may have also had a similar design to that of Ue Castle or Kuraji Castle.

The earthen ramparts and moat which ring the main bailey are mostly intact. However, unlike other bigger and more popular castle sites in Shiga, this castle ruin is not signposted, and the main bailey is someone’s private residence. It is not open to the public.




Gallery
  • Eastern Side
  • Former Water Moat and Earthen Rampart Eastern Side
  • Earthen Ramparts Eastern Side
  • Earthen Ramparts Southern Side
  • Earthen Ramparts Southern Side
  • 2nd Bailey Foreground with Main Bailey Background and Earthen Rampart Southern Side
  • Yakuimon and Earthen Ramparts Southern Side
  • Former water moats


Castle Profile
English Name Ohhara Castle
Japanese Name 大原城
Alternate Names Ohhara Kazuma Yashiki
Founder Ohhara Clan
Year Founded Muromachi Period (1338 to 1573)
Castle Type Fortified Manor
Castle Condition Ruins only
Historical Period Pre Edo Period
Features trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access Koka Sta. (JR Kusatsu Line), 10 min walk
Hours private residence
Time Required 20 minutes
Location Koka, Shiga Prefecture
Coordinates 34.89678, 136.21618
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Collections Koka Castles
Admin
Added to Jcastle 2013
Contributor RaymondW
Admin Year Visited Viewer Contributed


1.67
(3 votes)
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