Hiromi Castle
Hiromijō is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) ruin in Hirohata Township, Toyota Municipality. Ruins are primarily earthworks although there is some residual masonry evident. Ruins include baileys, trenches, gate ruins and foundation stones. Some stonewalls can be seen, particularly around the upper te
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History
Hiromijō was the residence of Nakajō Hidemasa, circa 1573. 'West Hiromi Village' was controlled by the Nakajō Clan, it is said, from 1355. Although in Mikawa Province, the Nakajō were vassals of the Owari-based Oda Clan. Lord Hidemasa fell on his sword in 1577, and thereafter Hiromijō was controlled in succession by Nakajō Hidekiyo and Nakajō Toshinaga. The castle's ultimate fate is unknown, but it was likely abandoned by the Edo period.
Field Notes
Hiromijō is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) ruin in Hirohata Township, Toyota Municipality. Ruins are primarily earthworks although there is some residual masonry evident. Ruins include baileys, trenches, gate ruins and foundation stones. Some stonewalls can be seen, particularly around the upper terraces of the main approach, and the gate complex beneath the main bailey. Further, there are notable examples of dobashi (earthen bridges), dorui (earthen ramparts), horikiri (trenches) and tatebori (climbing moats).
The layout of Hiromijō is unique and complex. Broadly speaking it covers the hilltop and two ridges, but the valley between these two ridges has been heavily developed and terraced, and is an integral part of the castle layout, constituting its main approach. Needless to say, this would be a bad place for the enemy to push into. The unbroken jumble of baileys and terracing is almost labyrinthine, and it would be very difficult to master this castle without a good map (and these are scarce).
For me the highlight of this site is an interesting configuration of earthworks to the southwest of the main bailey. One comes to a trench beneath the main bailey - actually, it may be intended as a portal as well as a trench as on the interior side it opens up into a terraced bailey space with a karabori (dry moat) forming a choke-point. Anyway, besides from this second most interesting part, if one continues along the dorui and narrow bailey of the ridge here, one comes to a dobashi which connects this intermediary bailey with the deguruwa (outer bailey). Beneath the dobashi is a steep, well carved tatebori. The thing seems to yawn as if to swallow one up with one false step. This wasn't on one of the maps I was using (it was on the other but hard to discern), so I was very surprised but enthralled to find this climbing trench.
Of course, the preserved foundation stones are interesting, as most are buried or lost at yamajiro ruins. And there are further features like climbing earthen ramparts and earthen weirs which still have ponds behind them. It's a dense, sometimes confounding site. The blogger I was using as a guide said he spent five hours here! It took me about two, which is still a long time for such a compact site. For about half an hour I explored the northern castle. Indeed, beyond the main bailey's rear trench is the other half of the castle, but this northern area appears to be much less processed, and although there are some tatebori, it appears to have never been completed.
To reach this site use Sasabara Station on the Aichi "Loop" Line. It takes 25-30 minutes to walk to the trailhead. Turn right at the police box along Route 248. Follow the Ibo River up to the Hirohata Community Centre, and take the small lane that goes by it. The trail is here, and when I visited there were flags set up at the trailhead. This path is well maintained. I thought about taking another path down the mountain that goes to Shirahige-jinja, but apparently this path is now out of commission. The ruins are for the most part well maintained and have signposts and explanatory boards throughout, though there are overgrown parts too.
Gallery
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Hiromi Castle |
| Japanese Name | 広見城 |
| Founder | Nakajō Hidemasa |
| Year Founded | c.1573 |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | trenches, stone walls |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Sasabara Station on the Aichi Loop Line; walk 25 mins to trailhead |
| Hours | 24/7 free; mountain |
| Time Required | 120 mins |
| Location | Toyota, Aichi Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35.17038, 137.12158 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2025 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Hōrōki | |
| Jōkaku Shashin Kiroku | |
| Umoreta Kojō | |
| Shiro no Rekishi Meguri | |
| Yogo | |
