Yagyu Furushiro Castle: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:22, 31 August 2025

From the Yagyu Higashi bus stop sign, follow the stairs up to the hiking trail. It’s a short walk to the ruins with only a slight climb. The horikiri (trench cuts) are very well preserved and arguably make this the highlight of the Yagyu castles, despite being less well known. Clear some of the tree

History

Local legend (and a sign at the site) attributes the castle to the Nanbokuchō Period, when Emperor Go-Daigo sought refuge at Kasagidera during the Genkō War. Some have also considered it a satellite fortification of Yagyu Castle. However, the horikiri, especially the dogleg yokobori trench, and other earthworks are clearly Sengoku Period. It was most likely built by Matsunaga Hisahide to control the crossroads where it sits (近畿の城郭II). The east–west route connects Nara and Iga, while the north–south route links the Yagyu Valley with Kasagidera. Afterwards, it was most likely a satellite fortification of Yagyu Castle to continue monitoring the crossroads.

Field Notes

From the Yagyu Higashi bus stop sign, follow the stairs up to the hiking trail. It’s a short walk to the ruins with only a slight climb. The horikiri (trench cuts) are very well preserved and arguably make this the highlight of the Yagyu castles, despite being less well known. Clear some of the trees and it’s obvious the castle once commanded the crossroads below. Buses from Nara are infrequent, so plan your trip carefully. Nearby is the fascinating old Yagyu Kōdō stone-paved road, which looks ideal for hiking. You could also hike to Kasagiyama Castle, which was my original plan for the day—until it started snowing.

Combine with visits to Yagyu Castle and Yagyu Jin'ya for a full picture of Yagyu history.

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Gallery

Castle Profile
English Name	Yagyu Furushiro Castle
Japanese Name	柳生古城
Founder	Matsunaga Hisahide
Year Founded	1558–1570
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); 5 min walk to trailhead
Hours	Mountain trails, limited signage
Time Required	30 mins
URL	Castle Website
Location	Nara, Nara Prefecture
Coordinates	34.7363, 135.9539
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2025
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2025
Admin Visits	February 11, 2025
Friends of JCastle
Jokaku Horoki

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 Combine with visits to [[Yagyu Castle]] and [[Yagyu Jin'ya]] for a full picture of Yagyu history.
-|History=Local legend (and a sign at the site) attributes the castle to the Nanbokuchō Period, when Emperor Go-Daigo sought refuge at Kasagidera during the Genkō War. Some have also considered it a satellite fortification of [[Yagyu Castle]]. However, the horikiri, especially the dogleg yokobori trench, and other earthworks are clearly Sengoku Period. It was most likely built by Matsunaga Hisahide to control the crossroads where it sits (近畿の城郭II). The east–west route connects Nara and Iga, while the north–south route links the Yagyu Valley with Kasagidera.
+|History=Local legend (and a sign at the site) attributes the castle to the Nanbokuchō Period, when Emperor Go-Daigo sought refuge at Kasagidera during the Genkō War. Some have also considered it a satellite fortification of [[Yagyu Castle]]. However, the horikiri, especially the dogleg yokobori trench, and other earthworks are clearly Sengoku Period. It was most likely built by Matsunaga Hisahide to control the crossroads where it sits (近畿の城郭II). The east–west route connects Nara and Iga, while the north–south route links the Yagyu Valley with Kasagidera. Afterwards, it was most likely a satellite fortification of [[Yagyu Castle]] to continue monitoring the crossroads.
 |Year Visited=2025
 |AddedJcastle=2025