Karasawayama Castle

From Jcastle.info

There are few castles in the Kanto region with this much stonework. Karasawayama Castle is an interesting blend of the late Sengoku Period stonework that was more common in Western Japan with the earthworks and trenches more common to Kanto region castles. At a Yamajiro Summit lecture, I heard it sa

Karasawayama33.jpg

History

Karasawayama Castle is one of the seven most famous castles of the Kanto area and is considered by many to have been the best mountaintop castle. It earned this recognition from withstanding 10 attacks by the Uesugi during the Sengoku Period. In Hideyoshi's campaign against the Hojo, Sano sided with Hideyoshi. At that time, the Sano were in good relations with the Hojo so he removed all the Hojo from the castle. At the Battle of Sekigahara the Sano sided with Tokugawa. It is said that in 1602 when there was a great fire at Edo Castle, the fire could be seen from the top of Karasawayama Castle. When he saw this, Sano sent his messengers to Edo Castle to relay his condolences. However, from this event it came to the attention of the Tokugawa that Karasawayama Castle looked down upon Edo Castle so the Sano were forced to abandon it and rebuild a new castle (Sano Castle) on a lower elevation. It is also said that the Tokugawa claimed there was a law against mountaintop castles in the vicinity of Edo. Unfortunately, there is no proof that either of these stories is true. Regardless, the Sano moved their castle from Karasawayama to Sano Castle in 1602.


Field Notes

There are few castles in the Kanto region with this much stonework. Karasawayama Castle is an interesting blend of the late Sengoku Period stonework that was more common in Western Japan with the earthworks and trenches more common to Kanto region castles. At a Yamajiro Summit lecture, I heard it said that the Sano were impressed by the stonework they saw at Hizen Nagoya Castle when working on that for Hideyoshi and borrowed the techniques to build the large stone walls of Karasawayama Castle. Even though large stoneworks weren't necessarily needed at most Kanto castles they make for an impressive sight to impress or intimidate visitors.

There are hiking trails approachable from Horigome and Tada Stations too but the route from Tanuma is probably the fastest and easiest. There is also a road to the castle if you want to drive or take a taxi to the top.


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Gallery
  • Honmaru stone walls
  • Kuichigai Entrance
  • Kuichigai Entrance
  • Large Well
  • Fourth Trench
  • Obikuruwa Bailey
  • Fourth Trench and bridge. The stone bridge was originally an easily withdrawn wooden bridge.
  • Honmaru stone walls
  • Honmaru stone walls
  • Honmaru stone walls
  • Honmaru stone walls
  • Honmaru stone walls
  • Honmaru stone walls
  • Honmaru stone walls
  • Honmaru stone walls
  • Honmaru stone walls
  • Ninomaru south entrance stone walls
  • Honmaru Entrance. You can see a large stone, called kagamiishi, on either side. of the entrance.
  • Large kagamiishi around the honmaru entrance. Kagamiishi are intended to intimidate visitors.
  • Behind the honmaru
  • Ninomaru North Entrance
  • Ninomaru Stone Walls
  • Ninomaru Stone Walls
  • Ninomaru Bailey
  • Ninomaru looking to the Honmaru
  • Minami Tsubone. A small enclosure of the Honmaru.
  • Stone walls of the South Bailey
  • View from the South Bailey
  • Horikiri through the South Bailey
  • Three stepped enclosures just north of the large well.
  • Sugi Bailey
  • Horikiri after the Sugi Bailey
  • North Bailey
  • Double horikiri trench
  • Dobashi and trench. Here the trench cuts away to make a narrow strip of land to cross.
  • Part of the trench from the other side
  • Trenches
  • Trenches that create a narrowed earthen bridge
  • Part of a unique twisted trench
  • Part of the twisted trench
  • Some stone work in the northeast of the castle
  • Some stone work in the northeast of the castle
  • A lookout in the northeast of the castle. You can also see a small koshiguruwa bailey below this point.
  • Mt. Karasawayama
  • Map
  • Map


Castle Profile
English Name Karasawayama Castle
Japanese Name 唐沢山城
Alternate Names Ushiga-jo, Nekoya-jo
Founder Sano Moritsuna
Year Founded 1491
Castle Type Mountaintop
Castle Condition Ruins only
Designations Next 100 Castles, Top 100 Mountaintop Castles, National Historic Site
Historical Period Pre Edo Period
Features trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access Tanuma Sta. (Tobu Sano Line); 45 min. walk
Hours mountain trails, open any time
Time Required 120 mins (longer depending if you search for some of the more elusive ruins)
URL Castle Website
Location Sano, Tochigi Prefecture
Coordinates 36.3538, 139.60078
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Admin
Added to Jcastle 2007
Contributor Eric
Admin Year Visited 2007, 2018
Admin Visits June 30, 2007; Feb 25, 2018


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