Motoyama Castle (Chikuma)

This site was tricky to get to because there was no obious trail. I stuck to the ridge line as much as possible. The rocky mountain scenery was invigorating. The castle ruin consists of a series of spacious terraced baileys surrounding the uppermost bailey. Including the shukuruwa (main bailey), the

History

Motoyamajō was the mountain redoubt used by the Motoyama Clan during the Sengoku Period. The Motoyama Clan, who served Kiso Yoshimasa, had their main residence at the foot of the castle mount. The Motoyama Hall later became the site of the Honjin (main inn) of Motoyama-juku, a post town along the Nakasendō (Interior Trunk Road).

Field Notes

This site was tricky to get to because there was no obious trail. I stuck to the ridge line as much as possible. The rocky mountain scenery was invigorating. The castle ruin consists of a series of spacious terraced baileys surrounding the uppermost bailey. Including the shukuruwa (main bailey), there are four tiers of sculpted earth in all. The koshikuruwa (sub-bailey) beneath the shukuruwa is surrounded by dorui (earthen embankments). The trench to the rear of the main bailey is very deep.

Gallery

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Castle Profile
English Name	Motoyama Castle (Chikuma)
Japanese Name	筑摩本山城
Founder	Motoyama Clan
Year Founded	Sengoku Period
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Hori, Kuruwa, Koshikuruwa
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Hideshio Station on the Chuo West Line; 20 minute walk to trail head
Hours	Free; 24/7; Mountain
Time Required	50 minutes
Location	Shiojiri, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates	36.06073, 137.90602
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2020
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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