Hakii Yakata
Hakii-yakata is a mountainside yakata (fortified manor hall) site in Umedaira village (just south of Hakii village) in Minobu Township of historical Koma County. On the mountainside there are a series of levelled areas which are the remains of the yakata. Excavations in the field where there is now
History
Hakii-yakata was founded in the early 13th century by Hakii Sanenaga, the third son of Nanbu Mitsuyuki. The Nanbu, descended of the Seiwa-Genji, relocated to Mutsu after receiving territory there in 1189, but Sanenaga remain in Kai, adopting the clan name Hakii. Hakii Sanenaga became a devout follower of the Buddhist philosopher-priest Nichiren after attending his lectures / sermons in Kamakura, the then-capital. When the Kamakura-bakufu attempted to suppress Nichiren, Lord Sanenaga protected him and invited him to Kai from his exile in Sado, thus making an enemy of the shogunate. Hakii Sanetsugu took over Hakii-yakata after Sanenaga. He too was a Nichiren sect devotee and opposed the bakufu. For his rebellious efforts he was beheaded in Kyōto. Hakii Nagatsugu, a supporter of the Southern Court during the Nanbokuchō period, took over Hakii-yakata after that, but he too would later relocate to Mutsu, and Hakii-yakata was abandoned. However, a separate branch of the Hakii clan would remain at Hakiijō to the north under Hakii Yoshizane. The yakata thereafter became a temple until it too was abandoned.
Field Notes
Hakii-yakata is a mountainside yakata (fortified manor hall) site in Umedaira village (just south of Hakii village) in Minobu Township of historical Koma County. On the mountainside there are a series of levelled areas which are the remains of the yakata. Excavations in the field where there is now a hokora (altar-shrine) revealed drainage ditches and pillar holes for buildings, and so it is thought that part of the shuden (lord's residential hall) was here, though this has yet to be confirmed. The site was also later a temple founded by the Hakii Clan, so this confounds things.
Now the site is open fields and cedar groves. I climbed past the field with the hokora up an old mountain path hemmed in on both sides. Another open field is located here with a pylon in it. Further up the mountain ridge is terraced in sweeping bands, and this area is a large cedar plantation. A large creek separates two ridges, each flattened atop and terraced. I followed the creek up and got the impression that it may have been augmented by medieval hands as a large climbing trench -- owing to the condition of the ridges and the persistent depth of the upper part of the creek as it rose -- but this may just be fancy. This area would've been readily defensible at any rate.
The religious monuments on the hillside are related to the nearby Nichiren temple of Kyōenbō. The sculpted hillside may also owe, in addition to the possibility of fortifications, to an extension of the temple, or to agricultural pursuits in later times. Ruins at this site are suggestive but ultimately mysterious.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Hakii Yakata |
| Japanese Name | 波木井館 |
| Founder | Hakii Sanenaga |
| Year Founded | Early Kamakura Period |
| Castle Type | Fortified Manor |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Designations | Local Historic Site |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | trenches |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Nearest station is Shinosawa Station on the Minobu Line |
| Hours | 24/7 free; mountain |
| Time Required | 20 minutes |
| URL | Castle Website |
| Location | Minobu, Yamanashi Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35.36633, 138.42885 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2025 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Hōrōki | |
| Yamareki | |
