Masugata Castle (Musashi)
I came to this castle because it is right next to the Nihon-Minaka'en, an outdoor museum with folk homes. The castle site is a flattened mountaintop with a reconstructed wall segment and kabukimon gate. There is a large viewing platform on site. I couldn't climb it because it was swarming with schoo
History
According to the Shinpen Musashino Fudokikō (新編武蔵風土記稿), a late Edo Period document, Musashi-Masugatajō (also called 'Masugatayamajō') was founded by Inage Shigenari in service of the Kamakura Bakufu, although this might be hearsay. Whilst a castle is thought to have existed here for a long time, it is not clear to history from when. The first contemporaneous evidence of military activity in the area dates to Muromachi Period conflicts between the Ōgayastu-Uesugi Clan and the Yamanōchi-Uesugi Clan. Masugatayamajō is thought to have been a minor fortification maintained by the Hōjō Clan as they expanded their power in the region. It is not known how long it remained in use or when it was abandoned. The remains of the castle consist of baileys and some remnants of earthworks.
Field Notes
I came to this castle because it is right next to the Nihon-Minaka'en, an outdoor museum with folk homes. The castle site is a flattened mountaintop with a reconstructed wall segment and kabukimon gate. There is a large viewing platform on site. I couldn't climb it because it was swarming with schoolchildren. They were like an army mustering at the castle. The castle site consisted of a main bailey and subsidiary bailey (with narrow obiguruwa attached) a little down the mountain.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Masugata Castle (Musashi) |
| Japanese Name | 武蔵桝形城 |
| Alternate Names | 桝形山城 |
| Founder | Inage Shigenori |
| Year Founded | Kamakura Period |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Baileys, Reconstructed Walls, Reconstructed Kabukimon, Castle-inspired Observation Platform, Earthworks |
| Features | trenches |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Mukogaoka-yuen Station on the Odakyuu Odawara Line; 15 minutes walk |
| Hours | Free, 24/7 |
| Time Required | 30 minutes |
| Location | Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35.61112, 139.56087 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2018 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
