Mumo Castle

The original castle covered two small mountains with the family temple in the valley between them. Residential areas surround the base of the mountains. I had higher expectations for this site. The descriptions in my books and materials looked like the ruins were more extensive. Also, I could not fi

History

Mumo Castle was built around 1288-1299 by Mumo Yasumune, a son of Utsunomiya Kagetsuna, lord of Utsunomiya Castle. After moving to Mumo village, he took the surname Mumo. The castle we know today as Mumo Castle however, was probably founded sometime after this while the early Mumo lords had a more simple fortified palace on the site of the current high school and/or on the south side of the Shizu Shrine. The Mumo clan were sandwiched between the Satake and Nasu in their fighting and sided with the Satake from around 1560. In 1595, the Mumo were reassigned and a retainer of the Satake, Ohta Kazusuke became the new lord of Mumo Castle. Satake Yohinobu earned the ire of Tokugawa Ieyasu by not sending troops to the Battle of Sekigahara, (due to a secret alliance with Ishida Mitsunari) and was reassigned to the Dewa province (Akita Pref.). The Ohta went with them and Mumo Castle was abandoned.

Field Notes

The original castle covered two small mountains with the family temple in the valley between them. Residential areas surround the base of the mountains. I had higher expectations for this site. The descriptions in my books and materials looked like the ruins were more extensive. Also, I could not find a trail up into the mountain on the right side of the temple. People at both the museum and the temple said it's off limits and you can't get inside.

There is a small local history museum near the trail to the castle ruins. Here you'll find the model of the castle. Unfortunately there is no pamphlet or even a good map for the castle ruins. Next to this local museum is a beautiful looking Hiroshige Ukiyo-e museum, but it was closed this day for changing exhibits. It seems wasteful that they've built such a great looking Ukiyo-e museum but give so little effort to making Mumo Castle, which is a Prefecturally Designated Historic Site, more accessible

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Gallery

Earthen bridge across the trench
Shizu Shrine in the Demaru Bailey
Obikuruwa bailey
empty moat
Dry moat
Dry moat
Honmaru Bailey
Honmaru Bailey
Large dry moat
Yokobori, horizontal moat
Horikiri and watchtower bailey
Yokobori, horizontal moat
Horizontal moat
Koshiguruwa Bailey
Horizontal moat
Obikuruwa Bailey
Obikuruwa Bailey
Kentokuji Temple
Kentokuji Temple
Map
Diorama of the castle grounds
Map of the current castle ruins

Castle Profile
English Name	Mumo Castle
Japanese Name	武茂城
Founder	Mumo Yasumune
Year Founded	1288-1299
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Prefectural Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Karasuyama Sta. (JR Karasuyama Line), 45 min bus
Hours	Open anytime. The museum is open 9:30 to 5pm and is free. Closed on Mondays or the following day if Monday is a national holiday and Dec 29 - Jan 3.
Time Required	60 mins
URL	Castle Website
Location	Nakagawa, Tochigi Prefecture
Coordinates	36.74021, 140.16978
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2015
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2015
Admin Visits	April 16, 2015

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