Hayashiohjo Castle

There is actually a road from the northeast side up to the top of the castle, but if you're going to walk it anyway, you might as well walk the main trail up the ridge. It's much more interesting. In particular, the main route up the ridge has countless small baileys all the way up.

History

It's not clear exactly when the castle was founded but it was likely in the 1440's. Early records claim that Ogasawara Nagatomo, Kiyomune's son, was born in the Hayashi Palace in 1443. Hayashiohjo Castle was the main castle of the Ogasawara clan until they were defeated by Takeda Shingen. The Ogasawara gave up in a nearly bloodless battle when they were surrounded by the Takeda forces in 1550. The castle was destroyed and abandoned.

Hayahshiohjo Castle is on a mountain ridge on the edge of the plain that stretches across modern day Matsumoto City and up the Yamabe valley extending east from Matsumoto. It has commanding views of the valley and the plain so it is easy to see why it was chosen for the Ogasawara's home castle. Hayashiohjo Castle combined with Hayashikojo Castle across the small valley to the south are often call Hayashi Castle together.

Field Notes

There is actually a road from the northeast side up to the top of the castle, but if you're going to walk it anyway, you might as well walk the main trail up the ridge. It's much more interesting. In particular, the main route up the ridge has countless small baileys all the way up.

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Gallery

Entrance to the second bailey
Ridge along the way to the top of the mountain
Ichinomon Gate ruins
Horikiri trench
Small bailey along the way to the top
Ninokuruwa Bailey
Ninokuruwa Bailey
Embankment around the main bailey
Horikiri trench behind the main bailey
Small bailey behind the main bailey
Obikuruwa
Obikuruwa
Entrance to the main bailey
Entrance at the rear of the main bailey
Stone wall
Small bailey
embankment
foundation stones
Main bailey
Stone path to the main bailey
Small bailey
small bailey
Horikiri moat
Embankment of a small bailey
View from the castle
trail head
Map of nearby castle sites

Castle Profile
English Name	Hayashiohjo Castle
Japanese Name	林大城
Alternate Names	Kinkazan-jo, Hayashi-jo
Founder	Ogasawara Kiyomune
Year Founded	1459
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Top 100 Mountaintop Castles, Prefectural Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Matsumoto Sta. (Shinonoi Line); 75 min walk.ta
Hours	open anytime
Time Required	150 mins
URL	Castle Website
Location	Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates	36.22526, 138.00911
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2015
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2015
Admin Visits	October 31, 2015

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