Funaokayama Castle

Funaokayamajō is a Sengoku period yamajiro (mountaintop castle) in the Kyōto Metropolis. The ruin's most salient feature is the long, winding yokobori (lateral trench) which encloses its baileys. I had mighty fun following this trench; at a point near the top it took a sudden turn and plunged down t

History

Funaokajō might be one of the shortest-lived castles I know of, being built at the outset of the Ōnin War in 1467 by the Western Army Coalition, and destroyed in 1468 by the Eastern Army Coalition, although the Battle of Funoakayama was also fought here in 1511. Of the many thousands of Yamajiro constructed during the Sengoku period, Funaokayamajō was one of the first. Kenkun-jinja, dedicated to Oda Nobunaga, was later built on the site. What symbolism in this? Here the Ōnin War started which lead to a century of conflict and the destruction of Kyōto. A hundred years later Oda Nobunaga marched triumphant into the capital, but following his death in 1582 the site of Funaokayamajō was designated for a temple which would commemorate him by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Could it be said that the Sengoku period starts and ends here at Funaokayamajō?

Field Notes

Funaokayamajō is a Sengoku period yamajiro (mountaintop castle) in the Kyōto Metropolis. The ruin's most salient feature is the long, winding yokobori (lateral trench) which encloses its baileys. I had mighty fun following this trench; at a point near the top it took a sudden turn and plunged down the mountainside; at the other end it snakes about in a 'U'-shape before sloping off.

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Castle Profile
English Name	Funaokayama Castle
Japanese Name	船岡山城
Founder	Western Army Coalition
Year Founded	1467
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	National Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Bus from Kyoto Station to Daitokuji-mae; ten minute walk
Hours	24/7 free
Time Required	120 mins
Location	Kyoto, Kyoto
Coordinates	35.03937, 135.74204
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2020
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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