Higashi Hirose Castle
Higashi-Hirosejō is a hirayamajiro (hill-and-plains castle) ruin in Higashi-Hirose Township, Toyota Municipality. Ruins remain in the form of earthworks. There is a significant segment of tall dorui (earthen ramparts) which connects with and leads up to the base of the hill. There used to be a moat
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History
Higashi-Hirosejō was constructed as a hilltop bastion with a fortified residence at the foot of the hill. The flatland of the component of the fortress consisted of both an inner and outer moat, as well as a tall, wide stretch of dorui inside of the inner moat. It has been speculated that the top portion of these ramparts was collapsed to fill in the moat after the castle was decommissioned.
Higashi-Hirosejō was the main base of the Miyake Clan, and, according to legend, originally built by Kojima Takanori in 1342. In the early 16th century the Miyake Clan were largely alligned with the Matsudaira Clan in order to oppose their rivals, the Sakuma Clan, based across the Yahagi River at Nishi-Hirosejō. Higashi-Hirosejō was used to defend Mikawa Province from invasion by Oda forces. The Miyake Clan would attack and occupy Nishi-Hirosejō more than once.
The Miyake Clan, with their allies the Nakajō Clan, decided to rebel against the Matsudaira Clan in 1558. Higashi-Hirosejō was in the grey area between Oda and Matsudaira territory, and the Miyake sought aid from the Oda Clan against the Matsudaira. In 1560, the castle was attacked and destroyed by Matsudaira Motoyasu (Tokugawa Ieyasu).
However, since Miyake Yasusada was later a vassal of Tokugawa Ieyasu, it would seem that after submitting to the Matsudaira, the clan or parts of it were allowed to continue on under the control of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and so Higashi-Hirosejō may have been in use as late as 1590.
Field Notes
Higashi-Hirosejō is a hirayamajiro (hill-and-plains castle) ruin in Higashi-Hirose Township, Toyota Municipality. Ruins remain in the form of earthworks. There is a significant segment of tall dorui (earthen ramparts) which connects with and leads up to the base of the hill. There used to be a moat system beneath this dorui, and it once enclosed the castellan's residence.
In a sense, this hilltop fort was more like a plateau-situated residence with its own hilltop redoubt attached. The hilltop is made up of flattened areas which were baileys. In the topmost bailey now stands Hirose Shrine. The fort was further defended by the natural terrain, with the Yahagi River surging past to the north.
At the base of the hill runs the now defunct section of the Meitetsu-Nagoya Line railway which ran between Sanage and Nishi-Nakagane stations, abandoned in 2004. Opposite the castle site is the old Hirose Station building and a stretch of track. Curious about the railway, I followed it along to a point near to where there is a rail bridge over the Yahagi River. The path was overgrown at this point, and I'm fairly certain there is a barrier beyond that to prevent access to the bridge. This western stretch of track curves along with the Yahagi River and the area inside the horseshoe is the koaza (locale) of Wogoso, which is just a forest. The former railway also goes on for some distance, it seems, to the east, but I hadn't the time to explore that section as my bus back to Toyota was due.
Gallery
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Higashi Hirose Castle |
| Japanese Name | 東広瀬城 |
| Founder | Kojima Takanori |
| Year Founded | 1342 |
| Castle Type | Hilltop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Dorui |
| Features | |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Bus from Toyota-shi Station |
| Hours | 24/7 free; park |
| Time Required | 30 mins |
| Location | Toyota, Aichi Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35.15112, 137.22008 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2025 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Hōrōki | |
| Oshiro Tabi Nikki | |
| Yogo | |
