Motai Castle (Hanishina)
Motaijō is a basic single bailey fort with trenches to the forward and aft. The ridge is piled high before the bailey, and to the rear the trenches are deeper, which is typical. Motaijō shares its unusual name with a large kofun (ancient burial mound) ruin on the peak above. The kofun is essentially
History
Motaijō is a minor site which seems to have been abandoned whilst Takeyamajō was still in use, though it was a branch fort of that castle. See: Hanishina Takeyama Castle.
Field Notes
Motaijō is a basic single bailey fort with trenches to the forward and aft. The ridge is piled high before the bailey, and to the rear the trenches are deeper, which is typical. Motaijō shares its unusual name with a large kofun (ancient burial mound) ruin on the peak above. The kofun is essentially the domed peak itself, which is quite interesting. The kofun is located between Motaijō and Kurahonejō. I climbed over the kofun but there is a narrow path which by-passes it on the way to Kurahonejō, so one can avoid marching up and down the kofun that way.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Motai Castle (Hanishina) |
| Japanese Name | 埴科母袋城 |
| Founder | Nishijō / Saijō Clan |
| Year Founded | Sengoku Period |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Horikiri |
| Features | trenches |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | No. 30 bus from Nagano Station to Matsushiro Station (35 mins); 10 minute walk to trailhead. |
| Hours | 24/7; Free; Mountain |
| Time Required | 10 minutes |
| Location | Nagano, Nagano Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 36.55081, 138.19246 |
| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2021 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Ranmaru | |
