Matsubara Castle (Omi)
Matsubarajō is a former yakata (fortified manor hall) site in Matsubara Township, Hikone Municipality (technically separate from the Matsubara neighbourhood in downtown Hikone). It is now the site of a daimyō-tier residence built by Ii Naonaka in 1810, which is why I visited. Although, I consider my
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History
Matsubarajō was the manor hall of the Matsubara Clan, a branch of the Nakahara Clan that served the Rokkaku Clan. The lord of the manor was Matsubara Sadanobu. Matsubarajō was also known as Isozakijō, particularly in relation to Isoyamajō, the Matsubara Clan's main fortress. Matsubarajō served as the kyokan (living castle) of Isoyamajō, a hilltop redoubt about 3km to the north, in a typical jōkan relationship, wherein the kyokan was supplemented defensively by an easy-to-defend fort on high ground to retreat to in times of war.
Matsubarajō was controlled by the Azai Clan from 1561, and became a branch fortification of Sawayamajō on the mountain to the east whose castellan was Isono Kazumasa. Matsubarajō was abandoned at some point toward the end of the Sengoku period. Hikonejō was built in the Edo period and the jōkamachi (castle-town) eventually spread into the Matsubara environs; in 1810, Ii Naonaka built the Matsubara-shimoyashiki, also called the Ohama-goten, on the ruins of Matsubarajō.
Field Notes
Matsubarajō is a former yakata (fortified manor hall) site in Matsubara Township, Hikone Municipality (technically separate from the Matsubara neighbourhood in downtown Hikone). It is now the site of a daimyō-tier residence built by Ii Naonaka in 1810, which is why I visited. Although, I consider my formal visitation to Matsubarajō to be earlier in the morning before the Ohama-goten ('Honourable Beach Palace'), as the residence is called, opened to the public.
I was staying at the Hikone Station Hotel, surprisingly a good ten minute walk from the station, from which it is just under 2km to Ohama-goten and Hikone Harbour. I thought about walking, but decided to rent a free bicycle from the hotel, even though the bikes were very old and dubious. The old fellow at the cashier said the bicycles were only meant to be rented for up to two hours, but I explained my intention to cycle to the port to catch the ferry to Chikubushima, and he relented.
I looked around Matsubara (there is another, smaller bukeyashiki there besides the goten) before having a konbini breakfast on Matsubara Beach. Lake Biwa is really like a sea, and, indeed, the name of the old province, Ōmi, means 'Near Sea' in relation to the Yamato Kingdom; conversely, Tôtōmi means 'Distant Sea', which was the original name of Lake Hamana.
After getting back from Chikubushima, I then peddled back to Ohama-goten for the somewhat rare public opening that was happening that day. I explored the 19th century residence site, which I have described in more detail here. A moat partially surrounds the residence grounds, and I did wonder if this didn't have its antecedent in the foritifications surrounding the medieval residence, Matsubarajō. However, castling blogs say no ruins remain of Matsubarajō, so maybe not. Many hours later I sheepishly returned the hotel bicycle.
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| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Matsubara Castle (Omi) |
| Japanese Name | 近江松原城 |
| Alternate Names | Isozakijō (磯崎城) |
| Founder | Matsubara Sadanobu |
| Year Founded | Medieval Era |
| Castle Type | Fortified Manor |
| Castle Condition | No main keep but other buildings |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | palace, water moats |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Hikone Station; 30 minute walk |
| Hours | Public Openings Infrequent |
| Time Required | 40 minutes |
| URL | Castle Website |
| Location | Hikone, Shiga Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35.28654, 136.2509 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2024 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Oshiro Tabi Nikki | |
| Jōkaku Tanbō | |
