Saitou Toshiyasu Yakata
Saitō-Toshiyasu-yakata is a former yakata (fortified manor hall) site which is now the site of Sōfukuji, a temple notable for its "blood ceilings" recycled from Gifujō after its destruction in 1600. No clear ruins remain of fortifications, but I found what looked like it could've been an embankment
History
Saitō-Toshiyasu-yakata was the seat of the Saitō Clan, the ruling clan of Mino Province; it was built by Saitō Toshiyasu in the late 15th century. Toshiyasu's son, Toshimasa, founded Sōfukuji on the site in 1496 (there is a legend that Sōfukuji was originally founded in the Kamakura period by Ryōtan Sōei as Kōsaiji). It would seem from old pictures that some kind of barrier once surrounded the site, but any ruins were lost to modern residential development around the temple.
Field Notes
Saitō-Toshiyasu-yakata is a former yakata (fortified manor hall) site which is now the site of Sōfukuji, a temple notable for its "blood ceilings" recycled from Gifujō after its destruction in 1600. No clear ruins remain of fortifications, but I found what looked like it could've been an embankment in the temple's garden. There are also cenotaphs behind the temple's hondō (main hall) for the Saitō Clan. Sōfukuji was also an Oda Clan bodaiji (funerary temple), so there is a stele cenotaph for Oda Nobunaga and Oda Nobutada on a small earthen mound.
In the temple hall's genkan (entrance parlour) there is an old monochrome aerial photograph showing the temple from above. Maybe it dates to the 1930s or 40s. The temple is surrounded by a dense thicket in a square formation. Surely, thinks I, inside those thickets were moats and ramparts which surrounded the old manor hall. But, alas, they're long gone now, as are the surrounding fields and huge prison complex shown in the photo, all now swallowed up by residential sprawl.
I should add that the temple hall also contains an old shachihoko roof finial said to have been originally erected at Kiyosu Castle (but I don't have a picture, I think because it came out blurry).
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Saitou Toshiyasu Yakata |
| Japanese Name | 斎藤利安館 |
| Founder | Saitō Toshiyasu |
| Year Founded | Late 15th Century |
| Castle Type | Fortified Manor |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Dorui |
| Features | |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Nearest bus stop is Nagaragawa Convention Center North Exit |
| Hours | 24/7 free; temple |
| Time Required | 20 minutes |
| URL | Castle Website |
| Location | Gifu, Gifu Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35.44363, 136.76726 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2025 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
