Yamagata Castle (Hitachi)

A mogi-tenshu (mock donjon) serves ostensibly as an observation platform at the castle site today. Whilst not historically accurate, as such a structure never existed at the site, it is built from wood and contains exhibitions, such as weapons, letters and samurai armour. Traces of earthen embankmen

History

Yamagata Castle is recorded from 1407 where it appears in records as being the castle of Satake Yoshinori. One idea about the castle’s origin is that Satake Clan vassal Yamairi Yoshiaki established Yamagata Castle after he turned over control of Tanadani Castle to his brother, Yoshibuji. During the Sengoku Period the Higashi clan ruled the castle as the vassals of Daimyō Satake Yoshinobu. They controlled an area of 60,000koku and were the chief vassals of the Satake clan. Yamagata Castle commands a strategic position over surrounding plains and waterways. With the hegemony of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Satake moved to Mito and the Higashi went with them, taking over Takekuma Castle and abandoning Yamagata Castle.

Field Notes

A mogi-tenshu (mock donjon) serves ostensibly as an observation platform at the castle site today. Whilst not historically accurate, as such a structure never existed at the site, it is built from wood and contains exhibitions, such as weapons, letters and samurai armour. Traces of earthen embankments and moats also remain at the site. Another mountaintop ruin castle, Takadate Castle, is located directly opposite.

Gallery

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Castle Profile
English Name	Hitachi Yamagata Castle
Japanese Name	常陸山方城
Founder	Yamairi Yoshiaki
Year Founded	Before 1407
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Main Keep Structure	Mock main keep
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Yamagata-Juju Sta. (Saigon Line), 20 minute walk
Hours	9:00 - 4:00
Time Required	30 minutes
Location	Hitachi-Ōmiya, Ibaraki Prefecture
Coordinates	36.63401, 140.39384
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2017
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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