Kakebora Castle
Kakeborajō is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) ruin in Motosu Municipality (Monju Township) - on the border with Gifu Municipality (via Oku Township). 'Kakebora' means 'Hanging Cave(s)', but I didn't see any caves. Ruins feature earthworks such as horikiri (trenches), dorui (earthen ramparts), tatebo
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History
Kakeborajō is obscure in the historical record. For more information see Ikoyamajō...
Field Notes
Kakeborajō is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) ruin in Motosu Municipality (Monju Township) - on the border with Gifu Municipality (via Oku Township). 'Kakebora' means 'Hanging Cave(s)', but I didn't see any caves. Ruins feature earthworks such as horikiri (trenches), dorui (earthen ramparts), tatebori (climbing trenches) and baileys.
My favourite feature was the ladder of terraced baileys beneath the main bailey, bordered by a very prominent tatebori and climbing berm. The castle features many terraces (so that I am quite sure I missed some), and the topmost bailey groups along the ridge are divided by horikiri. The western bailey has prominent dorui embanked facing southward.
Kakeborajō was my first and main target in a hiking circuit covering fortification sites on Mount Monju and associated peaks. I started from Motosu Station and climbed the trail from Monju Park hidden behind the Hachiman shrine. This trail was quite long, but it allowed me to hike in a loop without doubling back. Eventually that trail reaches the mountaintop where Kakeborajō is located. Thereafter a series of ups-and-downs took me through the sites of Ikoyamajō, Hōrinjijō, Yamaguchijō (the peak of Mount Monju) and Nakanojō. Together, these sites are referred to as the 'Monjuyama Jōsaigun (Fortress Complex of Mount Monju)'.
There are also the sites of Monjujō and Monju-jin'ya in Monju, but I couldn't find much info' on them and they weren't along my route so I skipped them. I'm not sure if Monjujō is part of the Monjuyama Jōsaigun or not; probably it is, but, despite the name, it appears to be very minor, and the centre of the group is surely Kakeborajō as the largest fort, or Yamaguchijō on the namesake peak.
I descended from the mountain into Hōrinji and reached my end goal at Oribe Station (both Motosu and Oribe stations are on the Tarumi Railway, but Motosu acts as a pseudo-terminus, requiring a change of trains). Before my train came, I was able to quickly have a look at the site of Yamaguchi-yakata. By the way, I don't know yet if it's related to the yakata next door, but Oribe Roadside Station features a folly in the shape of an Edo period castle yaguramon (gatehouse).
Gallery
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Kakebora Castle |
| Japanese Name | 掛洞城 |
| Founder | Unknown |
| Year Founded | Sengoku Period |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Horikiri, Tatebori, Dorui, &c. |
| Features | trenches |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Oribe Station on the Tarumi Railway; 10 min walk to trailhead at Hōrinji Bishamontendō. |
| Hours | 24/7 free; mountain |
| Time Required | 70 mins |
| URL | Castle Website |
| Location | Motosu, Gifu Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35.51264, 136.68849 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2025 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Hōrōki | |
| Kyūtarō no Sengoku Shiro Meguri | |
| Shiro Rekishi Meguri | |
| Jōseki Meguri Bibōroku | |
| Yogo | |
