Aika Yashiki
Aika-yashiki is a fortified residence ruin in the Nakaizumi neighbourhood of Iwata Municipality. It was inhabited by the Aika Clan from the latter 16th century to the late 20th century, so it spanned several historical periods. The architecture is lost, but the estate's old garden, centred around a
History
Aika-yashiki was built by Aika Naotomo from 1573 after he "donated" his former territory, which he inherited in 1557, to Tokugawa Ieyasu so that the latter could construct Nakaizumi-goten, which was done so from 1578. Aika-yashiki was abandoned in 1590 when the Aika Clan relocated along with their liege to Kantō in 1590.
This proved to be but an interregnum, the first of two, however, as Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Edo-bakufu, and Aika Naotomo was able to return to his former estate in the new era. Aika-yashiki hosted Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hidetada during the Ôsaka campaign as a sort of war room. Aika Naotomo's descendents were local daikan (shogunal representatives) associated with Shintō rites through until the Meiji Restoration in 1868 when their holdings were confiscated (Shintō was also transformed at that time) by Hamamatsu Prefecture and used as a public park.
This was but the second interregnum as the Aika family re-acquired part of their estate after 1873, and used it for various purposes, containing ryōtei (traditional high-end restaurants), shibaigoya (playhouses), rental properties, and even a yūkaku (brothel hamlet). The main establishment seems to have been called Kaienrō during that time, and retained architecture dating to 1830. There was a pavilion structure beside the garden called the Furōsai. In modern times these old structures were swept away (as late as 1998 it seems), and currently the site is that of the Nakaizumi History Park, with the main attraction being the residence's old garden which has been preserved.
Field Notes
Aika-yashiki is a fortified residence ruin in the Nakaizumi neighbourhood of Iwata Municipality. It was inhabited by the Aika Clan from the latter 16th century to the late 20th century, so it spanned several historical periods. The architecture is lost, but the estate's old garden, centred around a pond surrounded by large camphors, has been preserved and is very beautiful. On the terrace above the garden is a row of a earthen mounds that looks like dorui (earthen ramparts). Even though the garden is on the lower ground, it would make sense, especially given the remaining earthworks, for the medieval residence to have been built on the higher level. The site is now a park in a residential area.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Aika Yashiki |
| Japanese Name | 秋鹿屋敷 |
| Alternate Names | Kaienrō |
| Founder | Aika Naotomo |
| Year Founded | c.1573 |
| Castle Type | Fortified Manor |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Dorui |
| Features | |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Iwata Station on the Tōkaidō Main Line; 10 min walk. |
| Hours | 24/7 free; park |
| Time Required | 10 minutes |
| URL | Castle Website |
| Location | Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 34.71337, 137.84806 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2025 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Hōrōki | |
| Shiseki no Yawa | |
| Oshiro Tabi Nikki | |
| Yogo | |
