Yagyu Castle: Difference between revisions
(Created page with "{{Castle |English Name=Yagyu Castle |Japanese Name=柳生城 |Romaji Name=Yagyū-jō |Founder=Yagyū family |Year Founded=Early 1500s (Tembun era c.1530–1540) |Castle Type=Mountaintop |Castle Condition=Ruins Only |Historical Period=Pre Edo Period |Features=Earthen embankments, horikiri, kuruwa, wells |Access=Yagyu Bus Stop (Nara Kotsu Bus from Kintetsu Nara Station); 10 min walk to Hōtoku-ji Temple and trail up to the castle |Visitor Information=Steep hiking paths, te...") |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
|Japanese Name=柳生城 | |Japanese Name=柳生城 | ||
|Romaji Name=Yagyū-jō | |Romaji Name=Yagyū-jō | ||
|Founder= | |Founder=Yagyu family | ||
|Year Founded=Early 1500s (Tembun era c.1530–1540) | |Year Founded=Early 1500s (Tembun era c.1530–1540) | ||
|Castle Type=Mountaintop | |Castle Type=Mountaintop | ||
|Castle Condition=Ruins | |Castle Condition=Ruins only | ||
|Historical Period=Pre Edo Period | |Historical Period=Pre Edo Period | ||
|Features= | |Features=trenches | ||
|Access=Yagyu Bus Stop (Nara Kotsu Bus from Kintetsu Nara Station); | |Access=Yagyu Bus Stop (Nara Kotsu Bus from Kintetsu Nara Station); 15 min walk to Hōtoku-ji Temple and trail up to the castle | ||
|Visitor Information=Steep hiking paths, temple grounds | |Visitor Information=Steep hiking paths, temple grounds | ||
|Time Required=30–45 mins | |Time Required=30–45 mins including temple | ||
|City=Nara | |City=Nara | ||
|Prefecture=Nara Prefecture | |Prefecture=Nara Prefecture | ||
|Notes=The ruins of Yagyu Castle are located above Hōtoku-ji Temple | |Notes=The ruins of Yagyu Castle are located above Hōtoku-ji Temple. There are no signs for the castle nor clear trails up the mountainside. Just before Hōtoku-ji, near the pond and well across from the dojo, you can pick an easy-looking route to climb. Once on the ridge, faint paths can be followed to parts of the site. Two large horikiri (trench cuts) clearly divide the main bailey from smaller enclosures. Hōtoku-ji itself occupies part of the old castle grounds and embankment on one side may date to the castle itself. Combine with visits to [[Yagyu Furushiro Castle]] and [[Yagyu Jin'ya]] for a full picture of Yagyu history. | ||
|History=Yagyu Castle was the Sengoku-period home base of the Yagyu clan, who appear in records as early as 1384. By the early 1500s the family had shifted their seat from a nearby flatland yakata to this mountaintop fortress. The castle became the symbol of the clan under Yagyu Munetoshi (柳生宗厳), founder of the Yagyu Shinkage-ryū sword school. | |History=Yagyu Castle was the Sengoku-period home base of the Yagyu clan, who appear in records as early as 1384. By the early 1500s the family had shifted their seat from a nearby flatland yakata to this mountaintop fortress. The castle became the symbol of the clan under Yagyu Munetoshi (柳生宗厳), founder of the Yagyu Shinkage-ryū sword school. | ||
In 1544, the Yagyu allied with the Tsutsui’s rivals and were attacked by a force of 10,000 under Tsutsui. According to records the “outer castle” (外城) fell and the water source was captured, but the “main castle” held out for days before finally falling on July 29. The battle was fierce, with many deaths among Tsutsui’s retainers, but the Yagyu ultimately survived the fall and maintained their local power. | In 1544, the Yagyu allied with the Tsutsui’s rivals and were attacked by a force of 10,000 under Tsutsui. According to records the “outer castle” (外城) fell and the water source was captured, but the “main castle” held out for days before finally falling on July 29. The battle was fierce, with many deaths among Tsutsui’s retainers, but the Yagyu ultimately survived the fall and maintained their local power. | ||
During the Eiroku era (1558–1570) the clan aligned with Matsunaga Hisahide, and later with Oda Nobunaga, adapting to the shifting balance of power. By the early Edo period, the clan was re-established as hereditary sword instructors to the Tokugawa shogunate and moved their administrative base to | During the Eiroku era (1558–1570) the clan aligned with Matsunaga Hisahide, and later with Oda Nobunaga, adapting to the shifting balance of power. By the early Edo period, the clan was re-established as hereditary sword instructors to the Tokugawa shogunate and moved their administrative base to [[Yagyu Jin'ya]]. Hōtoku-ji Temple was founded on the castle site as the clan’s bodaiji (family temple). | ||
|Year Visited=2025 | |Year Visited=2025 | ||
|AddedJcastle=2025 | |AddedJcastle=2025 | ||
Revision as of 17:10, 31 August 2025
The ruins of Yagyu Castle are located above Hōtoku-ji Temple. There are no signs for the castle nor clear trails up the mountainside. Just before Hōtoku-ji, near the pond and well across from the dojo, you can pick an easy-looking route to climb. Once on the ridge, faint paths can be followed to par
History
Yagyu Castle was the Sengoku-period home base of the Yagyu clan, who appear in records as early as 1384. By the early 1500s the family had shifted their seat from a nearby flatland yakata to this mountaintop fortress. The castle became the symbol of the clan under Yagyu Munetoshi (柳生宗厳), founder of the Yagyu Shinkage-ryū sword school.
In 1544, the Yagyu allied with the Tsutsui’s rivals and were attacked by a force of 10,000 under Tsutsui. According to records the “outer castle” (外城) fell and the water source was captured, but the “main castle” held out for days before finally falling on July 29. The battle was fierce, with many deaths among Tsutsui’s retainers, but the Yagyu ultimately survived the fall and maintained their local power.
During the Eiroku era (1558–1570) the clan aligned with Matsunaga Hisahide, and later with Oda Nobunaga, adapting to the shifting balance of power. By the early Edo period, the clan was re-established as hereditary sword instructors to the Tokugawa shogunate and moved their administrative base to Yagyu Jin'ya. Hōtoku-ji Temple was founded on the castle site as the clan’s bodaiji (family temple).
Field Notes
The ruins of Yagyu Castle are located above Hōtoku-ji Temple. There are no signs for the castle nor clear trails up the mountainside. Just before Hōtoku-ji, near the pond and well across from the dojo, you can pick an easy-looking route to climb. Once on the ridge, faint paths can be followed to parts of the site. Two large horikiri (trench cuts) clearly divide the main bailey from smaller enclosures. Hōtoku-ji itself occupies part of the old castle grounds and embankment on one side may date to the castle itself. Combine with visits to Yagyu Furushiro Castle and Yagyu Jin'ya for a full picture of Yagyu history.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Yagyu Castle |
| Japanese Name | 柳生城 |
| Founder | Yagyu family |
| Year Founded | Early 1500s (Tembun era c.1530–1540) |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | trenches |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Yagyu Bus Stop (Nara Kotsu Bus from Kintetsu Nara Station); 15 min walk to Hōtoku-ji Temple and trail up to the castle |
| Hours | Steep hiking paths, temple grounds |
| Time Required | 30–45 mins including temple |
| Location | Nara, Nara Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 34.7327, 135.9868 |
|
|
|
| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2025 |
| Contributor | Eric |
| Admin Year Visited | 2025 |
| Admin Visits | February 11, 2025 |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jokaku Horoki | |
