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Akechijō is a yamajiro (mounaintop castle) ruin in Akechi Township, Ena Municipality. Ruins are earthworks such as baileys, dorui (earthen ramparts) and trenches, including unejōtatebori, rows of climbing trenches arrayed along the hillside. The general layout of the main area of the castle is of a main bailey area atop, with a ringing moat beneath, and from this ring many tatebori (climbing trenches) radiating out like spokes. These tatebori are well defined and large, making for a highlight of the site. The alternating tatebori besides dorui gives the effect of gigantic crenellations ringing the castle core.
The castle further has many lower baileys and a large demaru (outer bailey). There is dorui around some of these baileys too, such as the 'north main bailey annex'. I entered the castle by attempting to follow a terraced ridge from the southwest. However, the trail that used to be there had been swallowed by overgrowth, and consequently I had to infiltrate the castle by navigating a large, deep trench complex. In descending I took the trail to the northwest which is beside a long, climbing segment of dorui which flanks the castle's original main approach.
The Akechi-Tôyama Clan cenotaphs are found to the north at Ryūgoji where there is also, at the neighbouring Hachiōji-jinja, a gate which is said to have been originally built at the castle. The gate is a prefectural cultural property.
Akechijō is sometimes called Shiratakajō ('White Falcon Castle'), a sort of nickname. It may see common use due to there being several castle sites called 'Akechi', including [[Ochiai Fort|Toki-Akechijō]] (also in Akechi Township, Ena Municipality) and [[Akechi Osayama Castle|Akechi-Osayamajō]] (also near an Akechi Station, but along the Meitetsu-Hiromi Line in Kani Municipality). Akechijō in historic Ena County is not to be confused with Akechi-Osayamajō in historic Kani County, both in Mino Province (Gifu Prefecture). +
Akechi-jin'ya is a jin'ya site in Akechi Township, Ena Municipality. Ruins remain in the form of a mizubori (moat) spanned by a dobashi (earthen bridge), and ishigaki (stone walls). The site is now private property, but can be seen from below.
Akechi Township bills itself as 'Taishō Village' owing to the old townscape. The 'Taishō Rōmankan' is located next-door to the jin'ya site, and there is also a thatched roof cottage from the Edo period (presumably relocated). Just north of the jin'ya is Ryūgoji, a temple containing the mausoleum of Akechi Mitsuhide and the cenotaphs of the Akechi-Tôyama Clan. +
There are several "Akechi Castle" sites, of which this (might!) be one, and so it is also known as Osayamajō to distinguish it. There are many baileys, some of them deformed, but few other features to see, unusual for a site of this size. Castle researcher, presenter and author, Chris Glenn, tells us that it might not even have been a castle site! I did feel somewhat confident about a horikiri (trench) and koguchi (gate complex) ruin near one of the lower baileys though. Restored features include sakamogi (abatis), fences made from tree branches, and babōsaku (anti-cavalry palisade).
Anyway, I was more interested in the historical narrative of the apparent castle than the features. Considering the dearth of interesting structural features, it's fascinating that this site is cherished, maintained well, and promoted as a tourist destination. An old man rolled up whilst I was waiting in the carpark and sold us a commemorative seal. If only every middling castle site was so well loved! But, of course, the castle is notable for its historical associations more than anything else.
Let me ask you something: was Akechi Mitsuhide a traitor? English language materials often present him as such, generally being disparaging. I think this is unfair. You couldn't trust a samurai as far as you could throw him. Did Toyotomi Hideyoshi prove any more loyal? The focus on Akechi as a traitor derives from a tragically romantic notion of samurai being otherwise very loyal, but this was the exception and not the rule. There was no bushidō and each man was out only for numero ichi. The amount of times the samurai would back stab and lie to each other is a testament to that. Even so, I thought the mayor's message inscribed on a plaque next to a large statue of Akechi trying to present Akechi as an ambassador for love and world peace was a bit laughable. By all means lionise the local historical leader but let's not project our own image onto his, eh?
(At the castle I saw a kamoshika (idiot goat), and chased it up the mountainside. I moved like a spider on my toes and hands up the cliffside but the beast bolted so quickly that it crashed through the forest, bleating, rising much ruckus, and got clear away from me. I only wanted to love him!)
The best way to reach the castle is by renting a bike from Aki Station (rentals are free). It takes about 10-15 minutes to reach. If you prefer walking, it's also possible from the station. Within the castle grounds are the History Museum and the Calligraphy Museum. The Calligraphy Museum building is not an authentic reconstruction of any of Aki Castle's actual structures, but the top was designed to look like a castle structure. Outside the castle grounds are remnants of the castle town, like a samurai residence and other structures.
Profile by BrandonS with photos contributed by BrandonS and RaymondW. +
Akiba-toride is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) ruin in Kamishiro Township, Hakuba Municipality. The earthworks which are remnants of fortifications are found on the ridge beyond the Akiba shrine. It's a little curious that the tip of the ridge where the shrine is has no obvious ruins, and so it is suspected that the ruins may have been cleared here for maintenance of the shrine. As for the shrine, it is also noteworthy that the shrine is an Akiba shrine, as these shrines are for the worship of Akiba-gongen (a gongen is a kami (god) which has attained enlightenment, represented in Japan's traditional religion of Buddha-Kami syncretism), a diety responsible for fire prevention. The god was often venerated at forts where signal towers were used, as Akiba-gongen was also believed to have been able to assist with controlling fires for smoke signals.
Akiba-toride's ruins feature horikiri (trenches), kuruwa (baileys) and dorui (earthen ramparts). The layout is of a simple fort which follows the ridge; baileys are separated by horikiri. The baileys are terraced on their southern sides. There are two extant baileys, but the site of the shrine may have consituted a third. The site is quite overgrown, but the trenches are in a state of good preservation, and still have steep scarps; I bet so few people have come here over the centuries!
Akiba-toride is the gateway to the Tsukiyodana tableland, a mountain with prominent flat areas and gentle peaks ('tana' means 'shelf'). In the north of Tsukiyodana is Iidajō, and in the south are the remains of a long karabori (dry moat). I went to the latter before backtracking to get to Iidajō. I thought that the difficult part would be getting to the tableland from the ridge with Akiba-toride on, but actually the whole area is completely overgrown and difficult to get around despite the relatively gentle change in elevation between peaks.
Note: this site is Akiba-toride in historical Aźumi County, not to be confused with [[Akiba Fort|Akiba-toride]] in historical Ina County, both in Shinano Province / Nagano Prefecture.
The site of this fort is now a shrine and park. The small shrine appears built into the fort's dorui (earthen ramparts). Some more clumps of dorui are located toward the slope, indicating that the fort's bailey was here. After that there are no obvious ruins, though I might guess that some terracing I saw on the climb up may have been part of the fort's extended footprint. The site is, as mentioned, now a park, and during my visit there were many beautiful flowers in blossom, including wisteria (fuji, 藤) thickly coating a pergola.
Note: this site is Akiba-toride in historical Ina County, not to be confused with [[Akiba Fort (Azumi)|Akiba-toride]] in historical Aźumi County, both in Shinano Province / Nagano Prefecture. +
This is quite an interesting castle to visit. I was pleasantly surprised. There are plenty of signs and maps to describe the site. There are foundation stones were different buildings stood and you get a good feel for what the site was like. I would not have wanted to be the poor souls living near the toilet, however, no matter how unique it was!
There are a few different busses from Akita Station that will take you near the castle. It's best to ask at the station which is best based on the time. You can easily visit Akita Castle, Kubota Castle and the nearby Kurosawa Residence in a day.
See also [[Taga Castle]], [[Shiwa Castle]], and [[Hotta no Saku]] for similar <I>josaku</I> fortifications. +
Akiyama-yakata, the fortified manor hall of the Akiyama Clan, is now the site of Kumano-jinja in the village of Akiyama. No apparent ruins remain. +
Akiyoshi-toride is part of the Aida-jōkangun (see [[Aida Kokuzousan Castle]]), and is located roughly in the centre of the complex of fortifications which make it up. The toride site proper is on a narrow ridge, and is made up of climbing baileys with a large horikiri (trench) above; the climbing baileys become small and narrow and go like a giant’s staircase up to the ridge and Kokuzōsanjō. There is a moraine-like feature to the left (going up), like a static river of rock, and along the climbing mini-baileys is also a gate ruin with some ishigaki (stone-piled ramparts).
Akiyoshi-toride sits directly above the true core of the Aida-jōkangun. Here there is a terraced area of at least a half-dozen tiers lined with ishigaki (stone-piled ramparts) (specifically, this part of the fort complex is called the 十二原沢上流の平場群 or 谷間の平場群). I was amazed at how much masonry remains here. These stone-lined terraced are flanked in the south by a large tatebori (climbing trench) which runs their length. It reminded me strongly of Kirihara Castle and other sites in the Chikuma area of Shinano which were influenced by the Ogasawara Clan, showing the same method of constructing mountainside fortifications. +
The ruins of Akiźuki Castle contain ample ishigaki (stone ramparts) for the castle ruin enthusiast to appreciate, and even some extant structures, of which chiefly stark is the black gate which stands like a lonely shadow in the verdure of the orchard. Stone and earthen ramparts are found at the foot of the old castle mount. Unique and mysterious is a prominent ramp-like bridge which rises to the beneath the ramparts but appears to go nowhere further, being a dead-end, or false start? The mizubori (water moat), as shallow as a puddle today, flows beneath a rectangular opening in the carefully placed stone blocks of the bridge. Perhaps placed for traction due to the incline, the bridge's track is made of tiles stood on end.
Akiźukijō is an incredibly pleasant site for a stroll, and conjures up in its turn all those quaint infinitudes of aesthetic charm that truly bless this grand archipelago. I can't say whereat this pleasing array was most bold. The castle town in its rustic loveliness of by-gone days? The mossy piled stone on the ramparts of the castle ruin? The sacred causeway of the shrine on the mount? In the infinitesimal transienge of mood, atmosphere and lighting, what objectivist could say for sure?
For the related kyokan site see [[Akizuki Domain South Detached Palace|here]]. Commentary by [[User:ART|ART]]. Photo gallery donated by [[User:Kyushudan|KyushuDan]] from Japanese Castle Explorer. +
More ishizumi (stone-pilings) can be found on the hillside and below, adjacent to a small waterway, although their stones may have been recycled and replaced over the years. +
Ako Castle was much more vast than I had imagined. I'm actually quite surprised that so much good land was not developed over the years. Some of the remains have been rebuilt but the fact that they had the land or could acquire it is very impressive. There are ongoing plans to rebuild more of the castle. I was not able to visit the museum this time and the gates for the samurai homes were not open so I will definitely visit again some time to see those and whatever they rebuild next.
Whether the castle was a strong and defensible castle or not may be open for debate. Having been to many Edo Period castles I feel the moats are too narrow and walls too short to be of much defensive use. On the other hand, the Otemon and Honmaru Gates are well designed formidable gates and the many corner turrets with good angles for flanking fire are certainly well planned, but I'm not sure about the rest. I once heard someone once describe this as a "50,000 koku daimyo trying to build a 500,000 koku castle." Regardless, it is still a beautiful and photogenic castle. There are many stone walls and moats and different landscapes to photograph. You'll see some complete castle structures and some in ruins. I spent over 3 hours here early in the morning but could have easily spent more. I would like to have taken some more photographs of the Honmaru and Ninomaru Gardens which are also designated as National Scenic Locations. I love these cold December mornings with bright blue skies for photographs even if there are some long shadows to compete with. +
I went to discover the extant ruins of this castle which sits on a mountain behind [[Kameda Castle]], now covered by mock reconstructions. I found two baileys of Akozujō, the honmaru (main bailey) and sannomaru (third bailey), which has the weird pagoda-shaped museum on it, now abandoned. I also passed over a ravine, a natural feature incorporated into the defences of the castle. Exploring these ruins was an adventure, not least because large parts of the mountain are neglected. There are no direction posts or markers, and all but one of the signs have been removed, and the remaining one you can see has been heavily edited, mostly to remove indications of the theme park which used to be on the mountain, its remaining abandoned buildings now scattered about. Going by maps I found online, there used to be a ferris wheel and slides. The roads are barred. The road by which I descended the mountain is a raised, winding path now choked by vegetation. This creates a sense of foreboding, but if you brave this and reach the honmaru without getting lost, you will be rewarded with excellent views. Akozujō commanded a vast view and relied on a natural features for its defence. +
Like many earlier Sengoku Period yamajiro ruins, there are no structures left apart from some stone wall remnants, the remains of some baileys, earthen embankments, and dry moats. Once you get off at the Gakuenmae bus stop, it is around 20 minutes walk to the trailhead. This castle ruin is an easy hike, but some of the baileys are too overgrown with bamboo and other undergrowth to make them out clearly. When I visited in mid-March 2013, the main bailey and its adjacent baileys were fairly well kept with the grass and undergrowth trimmed. Also, it was impossible to get into the cluster of baileys around the central section and the southern baileys of the eastern section of the fortress complex because they have been fenced off to keep out wild deers and boars.<p>Profile, Notes and most photos by RaymondW.</p> +
It’s one heck of a slog to the ruins of Amabikijō. It can be accessed coming by the ruins of Oh’iwajō, Tsukioijō or probably Hitakijō (Kojō), though I didn’t make it to the latter. I climbed to Amabikijō from Oh’iwajō. There’s no trail so I just had to follow the ridge. Amabikijō, straddling the ridge, can be said to be divided into two areas with a low point in between, and I eventually made the ridge at this low point after traipsing through a slope full of fern plants. At many points up that interminable mountain I crawled like an animal, looking like some lanky bear with mange I suppose. Eventually I reached the top. Unfortunately I couldn’t stop to rest because there were many large flies spawning. They seemed to materialise around me if I dawdled too long. They mostly just landed on my jeans so they weren’t the worst, and I couldn’t figure if they were the same group of flies or new ones wherever I went, so I stubbornly smacked a bunch to rule out being followed. There were in reality just thousands of flies about. I thought they might not be around in mid’ October, but hey. I postponed snacking, having been on the mountain for several hours at this point, and just got down to business so as not to be assailed by the insects.
The main part of Amabikijō is based around the peak called – I think – Meikakusan (明覚山). The map I was referencing put the peak in the lower, less developed part of the castle to the west, but I think this was a mistake. The peak is the tallest point with the hokora (mini-shrine) on a platform of piled stones; it corresponds to the uppermost part of Amabikijō. Amabikijō straddles the ridge with a central cluster of baileys, then tapering off down the ridge in the east and west with some further small baileys and trenches, the baileys being built by flattening peaks along the ridge. The features of this castle include earthworks such as kuruwa (baileys), koshikuruwa (terraced sub-baileys), dorui (earthen ramparts), and hori (trenches). Despite the ups and downs I made it to every trench and bailey. Having made it to a detached bailey in the east, I then backtracked and descended at the easternmost bailey in the central cluster, which took me to the ruins of Tsukioijō.
The keep houses a local history museum. There is no English, but the park is nice. The main keep you see in these photos is a mock reconstruction for the museum. There was no such structure on this site. +
The castle was reconstucted between 2018 and 2019. +
Amagatajō is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) ruin in Mori Township, Shūchi County. Ruins consist of earthworks such as karabori (dry moats), dorui (earthen ramparts), and dobashi (earthen bridges). A sort of observation deck has been built somewhat in the style of a watchtower. The layout of Amagatajō is square, with an inner bailey surrounded on two sides by an outer bailey. Karabori and dorui protect each bailey. The site is maintained as a park. +
Amanarijō features two baileys with two horikiri (trenches) cutting through the ridge in between them. The northern bailey one reaches first if hiking down from Nakanojō. This is the second bailey and it has a berm of earth protecting it, but otherwise it is quite a small and helpless bailey. The main bailey is better defended and is surrounded by dorui (earthen ramparts), except in the south where landslides have eaten into the ruins. One of the horikri is part of a trail so it remains quite deep, probably no deeper than when the fort was first built. +
Amari-yakata is now the site of Dairinji, the bodaiji (clan temple) of the Amari Clan. There are no ruins that I could see; however, excavations on the site have confirmed the remains of defences such as moats. These are presumably now buried.
For the related tsumejiro see [[Ougidairayama Castle]]. +