Komoro Castle - Relocated Gates
This gallery is a collection of relocated gates from Komoro Castle. There is also apparently a remnant of the castellan's palace of Komorojō in the Kitamimaki village area of Tōmi Municipality, but I couldn't locate it. More information on the relocated gates below. Gallery by ART. Komorojō: As
Komoro Castle - Relocated Gates
小諸城移築門
This gallery is a collection of relocated gates from Komoro Castle. There is also apparently a remnant of the castellan's palace of Komorojō in the Kitamimaki village area of Tōmi Municipality, but I couldn't locate it. More information on the relocated gates below.
Gallery by ART.
Komorojō: Ashigaramon, Relocated Gate at Kōgakuji (Komoro, Nagano) 小諸城移築足柄門・高岳寺惣門 ［長野県小諸市］
The Ashigaramon from Komoro Castle was relocated from the castle site and can now be found at a temple in town called Kōgakuji. Some sources date the gate to 1596! Most relocated gates from castles are from the 17th century at the earliest, so one from the 16th century would be rare. However, whilst the original Ashigaramon at Komoro Castle was erected in 1596, that gate was destroyed in 1742 by a storm flood. The one we see today is a reconstruction dating to 1756; it was relocated to the temple in 1872 after the castle was decommissioned.
Ashigaramon was located between the second and third baileys at Komorojō. It now serves as the sōmon (general gate) at Kōgakuji. The larger gate seen at this temple is a rōmon (pavilion-gate) which serves as the temple's sanmon (main gate).
Ashigaramon is a kōraimon-style gate with rear-facing wings. The structural depth allows for an unobstructed forward view, and so the kōraimon-type gate was one favoured in castle-construction. I tried to take pictures of each of the bays.
Komorojō: Kuromon, Relocated Gate at Shōgen'in (Hachiman, Komoro, Nagano) 小諸城移築黒門・正眼院山門［長野県小諸市八幡］
The relocated kuromon (black gate) of Komoro Castle can be found at a temple called Shōgen'in in Hachiman Township, Komoro Municipality. The stone-piled ramparts which are the ruins of the kuromon can still be found at the castle ruins today, and the restored bridge there is the kuromonbashi (black gate bridge). The gate structure now found at Shōgen'in is not so large, so I think it was the rear gate entered after turning once beyond the bridge. The kuromon complex granted access to the castle's main bailey area.
The extant kuromon gate is aged and dates to 1613. These photos show the relocated kuromon and the temple which is now its home. Rather than foxes or guardian deities, the gate is guarded by two elephants, which is unusual. The temple further contains a large seated buddha statue in front of the main hall.
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