Minokubi Castle
Minokubi Castle has an Ōtemon gate in the third bailey. Behind the honmaru (main bailey), now the site of Sakamoto-jinja, is a row of dorui (earthen embankment) and horikiri (trench). The Sannomaru (third bailey) was also accessible when I visited, there was a pond there and an abandoned home. The N
History
Minokubi Castle, also known as Sakamoto Castle, was built in 1572 to replace an earlier nearby castle, Atagoyamajō, which was assaulted and destroyed by Sōma Moritane in 1571. It was erected by Watari clan vassal, Sakamoto Toshihisa, son-in-law of Sakamoto Takatoshi who had died defending Atagoyamajō. Toshihisa’s son, Sakamoto Tadahisa, was transferred away in 1591 and the Date clan’s Gotō Nobuyasu took over. In 1610 Yunome Kageyasu became castellan, but he was rewarded following his efforts at the Siege of Ōsaka with more valuable territory and relocated in 1615. Thereafter Minokubijō, surrounding territory valued at around 2,000 koku, was held by the Ōeda clan. The castle was abandoned following the Boshin War.
Field Notes
Minokubi Castle has an Ōtemon gate in the third bailey. Behind the honmaru (main bailey), now the site of Sakamoto-jinja, is a row of dorui (earthen embankment) and horikiri (trench). The Sannomaru (third bailey) was also accessible when I visited, there was a pond there and an abandoned home. The Ninomaru (second bailey) is now the site of a school.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Minokubi Castle |
| Japanese Name | 蓑首城 |
| Alternate Names | 陸奥坂元城 |
| Founder | Sakamoto Toshihisa |
| Year Founded | 1572 |
| Castle Type | Hilltop |
| Castle Condition | No main keep but other buildings |
| Designations | Local Historic Site |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Ohtemon |
| Features | gates, trenches |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Jōban-sen, (New) Sakamoto Station, 10 minute walk |
| Hours | 24/7 |
| Time Required | 30 minutes |
| URL | Castle Website |
| Location | Yamamoto Town, Miyagi Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 37.91752, 140.89296 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2017 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
