Kameyama Castle

Kameyamajō is a hirayamajiro (hilltop and plainsland castle) ruin in Kameyama Municipality. The ruins of Kameyamajō are maintained as a park, and the tamon-yagura, which sits atop very impressive ishigaki (stone-piled ramparts), can be entered on weekends. Inside there is a burnt section of one of t

History

The original Kameyama Castle was founded by Seki Sanetada in 1264 to the west of the present Kameyama Castle. When Seki Kazumasa was relocated to Shirakawa in 1590, Okamoto Munenori was given control of the castle. Okamoto moved the castle ot the southeast and constructed all the main structures. In 1632 when the Tokugawa Government issued a declaration that the main keep of Kameyama Castle in Tanba be rebuilt, Horio Tadazane confused it with this Kameyama Castle (in Ise) and destroyed the main keep and started work on the stone walls before the mistake was discovered. Even so, the Tokugawa government would not grant them permission to rebuild the main keep at (Ise) Kameyama Castle, so it was never rebuilt. Some also say, that this was all part an elaborate plan by the Tokugawa government. In 1636, Honda Toshitsugu moved into the castle and built a tamon yagura on the site of the original main keep that was mistakenly destroyed. He also renamed a three story yagura in the honmaru and used it as a main keep.

Field Notes

Kameyamajō is a hirayamajiro (hilltop and plainsland castle) ruin in Kameyama Municipality. The ruins of Kameyamajō are maintained as a park, and the tamon-yagura, which sits atop very impressive ishigaki (stone-piled ramparts), can be entered on weekends. Inside there is a burnt section of one of the original pillars on display. It apparently results from a fire that occured during the restoration of the turret in 2011. Restorations can actually be a dangerous time for old buildings as electrical sources and potential for accidents increase (for example, Notre Dame Cathedral). That 2011 restoration of the tamon-yagura also restored the exterior walls, changing them from clapboard which had been affixed since the Meiji period, to a more historically true (white) shikkui plaster finish.

To the rear of the main bailey is a karabori (dry moat) hidden in the trees, a sort of secret. To the north is the second bailey with an obikuruwa (terraced bailey) and gate ruin. The dobei (parapet) walls were restored in 2007, though they do not have loopholes. Beneath here is a large karabori, made from augmenting a large creek which served as a defensive barrier. A temple in the Kameyama-juku called Henshōji has a main hall incorporating the genkan (entrance parlour) believed to have been relocated from the castle where it was used as the entranceway for the second bailey goten (castellan's palace).

Updated notes and gallery by ART (2024).

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Gallery

Appearance of turret after 2012 restoration
Appearance of turret before 2012 restoration
tamon yagura
Entrance to tamon-yagura
Gatehouse of Kato Samurai Residence
Storehouse of Kato Samurai Residence
Second bailey ramparts
Dorui
Gate site in second bailey and ramparts
(Mock) Dobei around koshikuruwa (belt bailey)
Residence where Meiji Emperor briefly stayed
Relocated Genkan
Rear dry moat behind main bailey

Castle Profile
English Name	Kameyama Castle
Japanese Name	亀山城
Alternate Names	Kocho-jo
Founder	Okamoto Munenori
Year Founded	1590
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	Prefectural Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Features	turrets, palace, samurai homes, trenches, stone walls, walls
Visitor Information
Access	Kameyama Sta. (Kansai Line); 10 min. walk
Hours	Turret open weekends, 10:00-16:00 (free)
Time Required	80 minutes
URL	Castle Website
Location	Kameyama, Mie Prefecture
Coordinates	34.85617, 136.45056
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2008
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed
Friends of JCastle
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