Matsuo Castle (Ina)

Matsuo Castle's ruins consist of kuruwa (baileys), koshiguruwa (sub-baileys), karabori (dry moats), tatebori (climbing moats), ido (wells) and what looks to me like a yaguradai (turret platform) in the shukuruwa (main bailey). Matsuojō is located near to Suzuokajō; they're on opposite mountain frond

History

Matsuo Castle was the castle of the Matsuo branch of the Ogasawara Clan. The Ogasawara Clan were nominal governors of Shinano Province during the Muromachi Period. The main branch was based in Chikuma, at Fukashijō (Matsumoto Castle). Matsuojō and Suzuokajō (Ina Suzuoka Castle) each represented different branches. It is not known when Matsuojō was first built, but it is said that Ogasawara Sadamune inhabited it during the Nambokuchō Period. In 1582 Matsuojō fell to Oda Nobunaga. In 1590, with the regency of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Ogasawara were evicted and Matsuojō was abandoned to ruin. The site was likely farmland before being made into a park.

Field Notes

Matsuo Castle's ruins consist of kuruwa (baileys), koshiguruwa (sub-baileys), karabori (dry moats), tatebori (climbing moats), ido (wells) and what looks to me like a yaguradai (turret platform) in the shukuruwa (main bailey). Matsuojō is located near to Suzuokajō; they're on opposite mountain fronds with a steep valley betwixt. I took a footpath between the two sites, coming to Matsuojō after Suzuokajō.

Instead of entering Matsuojō through the main path which winds up through the karabori beneath the shukuruwa, I took a dubious approach which brought me out at the karabori beneath the ninokuruwa (second bailey). I didn't go further northwest beyond this point, although the castle's footprint extends into what is now fields and homes (the map of the site shows the "old castle" to the north); as it was getting on, I kept to the park boundaries, proceeding onto the shukuruwa.

Gallery

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Castle Profile
English Name	Ina Matsuo Castle
Japanese Name	伊那松尾城
Founder	Ogasawara Sadamune
Year Founded	Nambokuchō Period
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Prefectural Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Dorui, Karabori, Kuruwa, Tatebori, Yashiki-ato, Ido-ato, Yaguradai, Koshiguruwa
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Kega Station on the Iida Line; 15 minute walk to trail head
Hours	24/7 free; park
Time Required	50 minutes
Location	Iida, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates	35.48695, 137.82847
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2020
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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