Akechi Castle
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
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History
Akechijō is said to have been first built in 1247 by Tôyama Kageshige, though the ruins seen today appear to date to the 16th century. The Tôyama Clan had seven branches: the Akechi, Iwamura, Naegi, Kushihara, Iibama, Yasugi and Myōshō families.
In 1570, Akechijō was captured by Akiyama Clan forces from Nagano. Oda Nobunaga sent reinforcements, however, led by Akechi Mitsunari, who defeated the Akiyama at the battle of Odago, sending them retreating back to Shinano.
In 1574, Takeda Katsuyori invaded Mino with a massive force of over 15,000 men. Akechijō was defended by Tôyama Kazuyuki with only 600 men. The castle, at the centre of various supply routes, was fiercely contested by Oda and Takeda forces. Akechijō was besieged by Takeda Katsuyori, and the castle fell in a mutiny led by Iihazama Uemon. However, the following year, Oda Nobutada was able to reclaim Akechijō.
In 1583, Toyotomi Hideyoshi ousted Oda Nobutaka as the governor of Mino, installing Ikeda Tsuneoki at Gifujō. Tôyama Toshikage pledged fealty to Tokugawa Ieyasu and gave over control of Akechijō to Mori Nagayoshi as part of a peace deal. However, during the 1584 Komaki-Nagakute campaign, Tôyama forces recaptured Akechijō from Mori Nagayoshi's vassal, Ishiguro Tōzō. Later, Toyotomi Hideyoshi used his power as regent to return the castle back to the control of Mori Tadamasa in 1585.
In the lead-up to the battle of Sekiǵahara the Hara Clan served as castellans of Akechijō. The Akechi-Tôyama Clan joined the Eastern Army during the Sekiǵahara campaign in 1600, and were successful in re-taking their ancestral castle from the vassals of Tamura Naomasa, then lord of Iwamurajō. Tamura Naomasa had become lord of Iwamurajō when Tokugawa Ieyasu had relocated Mori Tadamasa to Shinano, but betrayed him and joined the Western Army. Following their victory, Tokugawa Ieyasu made the Akechi-Tôyama bannermen and confirmed their territorial holdings, valued at over 6,500 koku. Akechijō was abandoned in 1615 and replaced with Akechi-jin'ya.
Field Notes
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 Toki-Akechijō (also in Akechi Township, Ena Municipality) and 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).
Gallery
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Akechi Castle |
| Japanese Name | 明智城 |
| Founder | Tôyama Kageshige |
| Year Founded | 1247 |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | No main keep but other buildings |
| Designations | has Important Cultural Properties, Prefectural Historic Site |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Dorui, Unejōtatebori, Karabori, &c. |
| Features | gates, trenches |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Akechi Station on the Akechi Railway; or, bus from Mizunami Station on the Chūō Line; 10 min walk. |
| Hours | 24/7 free; mountain |
| Time Required | 90 mins |
| Location | Ena, Gifu Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35.30359, 137.39445 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2025 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Hōrōki | |
| Yogo | |
| Kyūtarō no Sengoku Shiro Meguri | |
| Castle Walker | |
