Naegi Castle

This is an amazing site and highly recommended for any castle fans despite not having any buildings. The stonework is much more extensive than I had even imagined. The site is well maintained with many signs and great views of the surrounding valleys. This makes it an enjoyable site for anyone. Take

History

The Toyama clan were lords over this area going back to the 1200's. Naegi Castle itself was built in 1532. In 1583 the Toyama lost control of Naegi Castle in an attack by Mori Nagayoshi and Kawajiri Hidenaga became the new castle lord. Kawajiri died at the Battle of Sekigahara and Naegi Castle was returned to the Toyama clan but Tokugawa Ieyasu. The Toyama clan continued to rule for 12 generations until the Meiji Resoration when when the castle was dismantled in 1871.

In the Edo Period, many mountaintop castles were abandoned in favor of building more accessible castles, but the Toyama clan kept the castle their family had built up over generations. The castle deftly makes use of many of the natural rock outcroppings and boulders found on the mountain. Look at some of the photos of the model of the castle and artist's renderings that can be found at the website link above. Also note that the buildings have a reddish tint to them. They did not coat the clay walls with white plaster earning the castle the nickname of "Red Wall Castle" (Akakabe-jo).

Field Notes

This is an amazing site and highly recommended for any castle fans despite not having any buildings. The stonework is much more extensive than I had even imagined. The site is well maintained with many signs and great views of the surrounding valleys. This makes it an enjoyable site for anyone. Take your time and be sure to explore all the paths, There is some great stonework and views hidden around the shikirimon area too.

From Nakatsugawa station, take the bus No1 to "Naegi". Takes 15min and costs 380Y. From here, walk 1.5km in the south. If you want to visit other sites in the area, it may be worth taking a taxi for around 2000 yen. If you see other tourist looking types at the station you may be able to split a taxi.

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Gallery

Ooyagura
Remains of the foot soldiers quarters
Path to the Kazafukimon Gate and Ooyagura.
Kazafukimon Gate and Ooyagura
Stone walls of the Ooyagura.
Ooyagura
Stairs to the top of the Ooyagura
Ooyagura stone walls.
Ooyagura
Top of the Ooyagura.
Entrance to the Ooyagura
Kakarimon Gate
Takemon Gate
Kakarimon and Ooyagura
Site of the Ohmon Gate.
Watakuramon Gate
Stone wall along the route to the Honmaru
Route to the Honmaru
Remains of the Sakashitamon Gate
Honmaru stone walls
Honmaru stone walls
Foundation stones of the armory
Main keep foundation
Honmaru stone walls main keep foundation
Main keep foundation
View from the main keep foundation.
Main keep entrance
Base of the main keep
Stone entrance to the main keep.
Stone wall and a large boulder.
Foundation stones of the lord's palace
Small stone walls
Stone walls
Stone steps
Stone wall restoration
Stone walls of the Fumeimon Gate
Stone walls of the Obikuruwa Bailey.
Stone walls of the Obikuruwa Bailey
Stone walls near the Shikirimon Gate
Stone walls between the Ninomaru and Sannomaru
Ninomaru stone walls.
Ninomaru Stone walls
Stone walls between the Ninomaru and Sannomaru
Sannomaru stone walls

Castle Profile
English Name	Naegi Castle
Japanese Name	苗木城
Alternate Names	Kasumiga-jo, Akakabe-jo, Takamori-jo
Founder	Tôyama Naokado
Year Founded	1532
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Next 100 Castles, Top 100 Mountaintop Castles, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Features	trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Nakatsugawa Sta. (Chuo Line) 15min Bus
Hours	The castle site is always open, free. The museum is open 9:30am-5pm. 320 yen. Closed Mondays (unless a holiday, in which case, closed Tuesday) and 12/27-1/5.
Time Required	2 hrs
URL	Castle Website
Location	Nakatsugawa, Gifu Prefecture
Coordinates	35.5132, 137.48526
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2013
Admin Year Visited	2014
Admin Visits	May 2, 2014

3.50

(6 votes)

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