Hayashitaniyama Fort: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 06:41, 27 June 2025

At first glance, Hayashitaniyama Fort may appear deceptively simple, but when you look closely, it is a fasicanting site in the bigger landscape of Shibata fortifications. The castle is situated on a ridge that extends roughly north to south along the Hokkoku Kaido. A single embankment runs for an i

History

Hayashitaniyama Fort was one of several mountaintop forts constructed by Shibata Katsuie's general along the Mt. Gyoichi mountain range leading up to the Battle of Shizugatake in 1583. It was commanded by Fuwa Naomitsu.

One of the signposts at the site attributes the fort to the Menjū brothers (毛受兄弟). According to local legend, when Shibata Katsuie realized his cause was lost, a loyal retainer named Menju Katsuteru persuaded him to escape to Kitanosho Castle and end things on his own terms. Disguising himself as Katsuie, Menju took up the battle standard (umajirushi) and climbed to Hayashitaniyama Fort, where he joined his brother and approximately 500 men. What followed was a prolonged and fierce gun battle. The defenders used matchlock volleys, reloading in shifts, holding position as their numbers slowly dwindled, buying time for Shibata's escape. Just before he was killed, Katsuteru revealed his identity. Hideyoshi was so moved by this act of selfless loyalty that he delivered the head of Katsuteru to the temple at the foot of the mountain and ordered the monks to conduct proper rites. With that, Hideyoshi continued his march northward.

See Battle of Shizugatake for more details.

Field Notes

At first glance, Hayashitaniyama Fort may appear deceptively simple, but when you look closely, it is a fasicanting site in the bigger landscape of Shibata fortifications. The castle is situated on a ridge that extends roughly north to south along the Hokkoku Kaido. A single embankment runs for an impressive 480 meters along the ridge overlooking the valley below. It was clearly designed as a frontline bulwark protecting the entire Shibata defensive line leading up to Gyoichiyama Fort and creating commanding presence over the highway. About midway along this 480m ridgeline sits a square-shaped bailey, which may have served as a lookout post or command station.

The site starts with a sign pointing the way from the main trail. From here the trail is not clear but it's easy enough to follow the ridge and dorui embankment until the end. The embankment is not completely continuous but erodes and fades out in some place. An inubashiri type narrow "walkway" and some smaller side baileys looking down over the valley can also be seen in some places. After exploring this ridge you need to double back to the main trail to explore other castles in this defensive line.

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Gallery

Castle Profile
English Name	Hayashitaniyama Fort
Japanese Name	林谷山砦
Founder	Shibata Katsuie
Year Founded	1583
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features
Visitor Information
Access	JR Yogo Sta., 4.5km to trailhead
Hours	Mountain trails, limited signage, lightly marked trail
Time Required	30 mins
Hiking Trail	View on Yamap
Location	Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture
Coordinates	35.56815, 136.19018
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2025
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2025
Admin Visits	April 27, 2025
Friends of JCastle
Jokaku Horoki

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@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 |City=Nagahama
 |Prefecture=Shiga Prefecture
-|Notes=At first glance, Hayashitaniyama Fort may appear deceptively simple, but when considered in the broader context of the battlefield and Shibata’s defensive strategy, it becomes a fascinating site. This is the first ridge encountered after ascending the mountain, and it plays a critical role in the larger network of fortifications. A single embankment runs roughly north to south for an impressive 480 meters, facing outward toward the Hokkoku Kaidō and the valley below. On the outer slope of this embankment is a narrow inubashiri (dog run), which drops steeply down to the valley floor—strongly suggesting this was designed as a frontline bulwark protecting the entire Shibata defensive line leading up to Gyoichiyama Fort. About midway along the ridge sits a square-shaped bailey, which may have served as a lookout post, seiroyagura watchtower or command station, reinforcing the fort’s strategic importance.
+|Notes=At first glance, Hayashitaniyama Fort may appear deceptively simple, but when you look closely, it is a fasicanting site in the bigger landscape of Shibata fortifications. The castle is situated on a ridge that extends roughly north to south along the Hokkoku Kaido. A single embankment runs for an impressive 480 meters along the ridge overlooking the valley below. It was clearly designed as a frontline bulwark protecting the entire Shibata defensive line leading up to Gyoichiyama Fort and creating commanding presence over the highway. About midway along this 480m ridgeline sits a square-shaped bailey, which may have served as a lookout post or command station.
+The site starts with a sign pointing the way from the main trail. From here the trail is not clear but it's easy enough to follow the ridge and dorui embankment until the end. The embankment is not completely continuous but erodes and fades out in some place. An inubashiri type narrow "walkway" and some smaller side baileys looking down over the valley can also be seen in some places. After exploring this ridge you need to double back to the main trail to explore other castles in this defensive line.
 |History=Hayashitaniyama Fort was one of several mountaintop forts constructed by Shibata Katsuie's general along the Mt. Gyoichi mountain range leading up to the Battle of Shizugatake in 1583. It was commanded by Fuwa Naomitsu.
-One of the signposts above says it is the fort of the Menju Brothers.  When Shibata Katsuie realized he was doomed, Menju Katsuteru a local retainer, encouraged him to flee to [[Kitanosho Castle]] and end things on his own terms. Menju disguised himself as Katsuie, took the battle standard and charged up Hayashitani Fort where he met his brother and 500 other troops. He and his brother bought Katsuie time to escape and fought until few remained. Shortly before he was killed he revealed he was not Katsuie. Hideyoshi was so impressed with his bravery and commitment to his lord, he left the body monks from the temple at the foot of the mountain and charged them with giving him proper respects. Hideyoshi then charged on towards Echizen.
+One of the signposts at the site attributes the fort to the Menjū brothers (毛受兄弟). According to local legend, when Shibata Katsuie realized his cause was lost, a loyal retainer named Menju Katsuteru persuaded him to escape to [[Kitanosho Castle]] and end things on his own terms. Disguising himself as Katsuie, Menju took up the battle standard (umajirushi) and climbed to Hayashitaniyama Fort, where he joined his brother and approximately 500 men. What followed was a prolonged and fierce gun battle. The defenders used matchlock volleys, reloading in shifts, holding position as their numbers slowly dwindled, buying time for Shibata's escape. Just before he was killed, Katsuteru revealed his identity. Hideyoshi was so moved by this act of selfless loyalty that he delivered the head of Katsuteru to the temple at the foot of the mountain and ordered the monks to conduct proper rites. With that, Hideyoshi continued his march northward.
 See [[Battle of Shizugatake]] for more details.