Komono Castle
Part of the castle moats and a built-up area remain on the west and north sides of what is now the Komono Primary School. A small section of the clan residence garden remains in the south-west corner, where Komono Castle monument is located. The remains of a corner turret facing the Furiko River run
History
Komono Castle in Komono Domain, northern Mie Prefecture, was the residence of the 12,000 koku valued Hijikata clan for approximately 270 years, from the first lord, Hijikata Yuuji to the 12th generation, Lord Hijikata Yuunaga, until the abolition of the domains in 1869. That the Hijikata clan held the domain without any transfers or relocations throughout the Edo period is rather rare.
When the castle was abandoned in 1873, part of the clan residence was moved to the Zenrin-ji Temple in nearby Ukawahara, one of the gates went to the Kanakura-ji Temple in Asagami Kojima, part of the stable to a farmhouse in Akamizu, Yokkaichi, and a corner yagura turret to a farmhouse in Ikesoko. However, other than the gate of Kanakura-ji, the other structures were demolished over the years due to age related risk of collapse.
Field Notes
Part of the castle moats and a built-up area remain on the west and north sides of what is now the Komono Primary School. A small section of the clan residence garden remains in the south-west corner, where Komono Castle monument is located. The remains of a corner turret facing the Furiko River running south-west and part of the stone masonry remains can be seen to the east of that.
The town area where the clan’s samurai lived is still known as 'Hannai', and the remains of the north, south and east castle gates can also be seen by the road. Old maps of the area found in the former clan houses, give an indication of the scale of the clan residences, the division of the clan’s residences and the layout of the town.
Profile by Chris Glenn (edited by ART).
Update by ART (2025):
Komono-jin'ya / Komonojō is a hirajiro (flatland castle) ruin and former jin'ya site in Komono Township, Mie County. Ruins remain of earthworks: dorui (earthen ramparts) and a moat section on the northwestern side of Komono Elementary School. On the south side of the school is a mound with a stele to mark the castle. To the west of the school National Route 306 passes on an elevated road above the Kintetsu-Yunoyama Line railway; this was the site of a sumi-yagura (corner turret), of which photographs remain, but no ruins, and there is now an explanation board there showing the photo.
A group of buildings were relocated from the jin'ya and repurposed following its decommission in 1873. However, these are now either part of private homes or no longer preserved (as with the shoin (drawing room) of the jin'ya goten (castellan's palace) which was relocated to Zenrinji but torn down in 2008); the only exception is the surviving gate at Konzōji, a small but comely temple in Ojima village of Komono Township, which I also visited.
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| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Komono Castle |
| Japanese Name | 菰野城 |
| Alternate Names | Komono-jin'ya |
| Founder | Hijikata Yuuji |
| Year Founded | c. 1603 |
| Castle Type | Flatland |
| Castle Condition | No main keep but other buildings |
| Designations | Prefectural Historic Site |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Ishigaki, Dorui, Hori, Relocated Gates and Shoin |
| Features | gates, stone walls |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Nakakomono Station on the Kintetsu Yunoyama Line; 7 minute walk |
| Hours | 24/7 free; park |
| Time Required | |
| Location | Komono, Mie Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35.01275, 136.50866 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2022 |
| Contributor | 豪谷 |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Hōrōki | |
| Kojōdan | |
