Kanayama Castle

Ota City has done a splendid job taking care of this historical site. The ruins are well maintained, good signs explain points of interest, and the website is very detailed. The new Information Center also enhances the experience.

History

Iwamatsu Iezumi built this castle in 1469. Yokose Narishige, a retainer of the Iwamatsu family, came to rule over it 1528. Around 1565, the Yokose changed their name to Yura. Kanayama Castle was attacked several times by some of the strongest powers in the area including Uesugi Kenshin (1574), Takeda Katsuyori (1580) and Satake Yoshishige (1583). It withstood all these attacks demonstrating its tough construction and great location.

In 1584, Yura Kunishige and his brother Nagao Akinaga (lord of Tatebayashi Castle) were captured by the Hojo of Odawara. In exchange for their release, they turned over the castle to the Hojo. During Hideyoshi's campaign against the Hojo, Maeda Toshiie took over of Kanayama Castle in 1590. It was decommissioned and not used after this time. Kanayama Castle is one of the Top 100 Castles, one of the Seven Famous Kanto Castle and a National Historical Site. The picture above is of the Ote Koguchi, the main entrance to the castle. The gate combined with the entrance road that is bordered on both sides with stone walls and baileys is very strong and elaborate. There are few such structures throughout the country.

Field Notes

Ota City has done a splendid job taking care of this historical site. The ruins are well maintained, good signs explain points of interest, and the website is very detailed. The new Information Center also enhances the experience.

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Gallery

Ote Koguchi
Mitsuke Demaru bailey
Mitsuke Demaru
Dry moat
horikiri
wooden log path
wooden log path
horikiri
Deep horikiri before the stone bridge.
stone bridge over a horikiri and entrance
stone walls and stone paved road
wooden bridge and stone walls
Stone walls
Looking back over the wooden bridge
Bailey of the lookout tower
View from the lookout tower
building foundation and entrance
remains of a building foundation
building foundation
Baba Kuruwa (bailey)
Tsuki-no-ike pond
Ote Koguchi entrance
Ote Koguchi Stone walls
Main road from the entrance
reconstructed storehouse
stone walls
Hi-no-ike pond
honmaru bailey
Map of the inner castle grounds
The mountain with the castle

Castle Profile
English Name	Kanayama Castle
Japanese Name	金山城
Alternate Names	Ota Kanayama-jo / Nitta Kanayama-jo
Founder	Iwamatsu Iezumi
Year Founded	1469
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Top 100 Castles, Top 100 Mountaintop Castles, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Ota Sta. (Tobu Isezaki Line); 50 min walk
Hours	The park is open year round. The Guidance Center is open 9am-5pm, closed Mondays except holidays, and the day following a Monday holiday.
Time Required	180 mins
URL	Castle Website
Location	Ota, Gunma Prefecture
Coordinates	36.31741, 139.37768
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2007
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2007, 2013
Admin Visits	June 23, 2007; May 23, 2013

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