Nakamura Castle (Soma)

Easy to access from Soma station, about a 10-15 minute walk. The baileys go out beyond the castle moats and ponds, a large site. The park is lovely in autumn, I last came here in Spring. Certain changes have occurred since then. The good news is that trees have been cut back to show the form and w

History

The area hosted forts as far back as the 9th century. In 1337 the Nakamura built a fortified headquarters on the site and ruled into the Sengoku period. In 1563 Sōma Takatane conquered the castle. Around this time the dispute between the Sōma and Date clans was intensifying and the Sōma, based at Odaka Castle, stationed a vassal at Nakamurajō to keep the Date at bay. In 1611, Sōma Toshitane moved the Sōma headquarters from Odakajō to Nakamurajō, at which time the Nakamura fief was worth 60,000 koku. In 1868 Meiji forces conquered Nakamurajō during the Boshin War, and in 1871 the site was abandoned.

Field Notes

Easy to access from Soma station, about a 10-15 minute walk. The baileys go out beyond the castle moats and ponds, a large site.

The park is lovely in autumn, I last came here in Spring. Certain changes have occurred since then. The good news is that trees have been cut back to show the form and walls of the castle. Whilst this creates a very different atmosphere from what I remember in Spring, it does provide a much clearer view from the foot of the hill. The grass underneath the ascending bridge into the Honmaru has also been trimmed, making it easy to get a good look at the ishigaki without having to fight one’s way through the bush.

Profile and photos contributed by ART.

Gallery

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  Outer Ote Ichinomon Gate
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  Honmaru stone walls
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Castle Profile
English Name	Nakamura Castle (Soma)
Japanese Name	相馬中村城
Alternate Names	Mutsu-Nakamurajō
Founder	Nakamura Asataka
Year Founded	1337
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	Prefectural Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Features	gates, trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Sōma Station on the Jōban Line; 15 min walk
Hours	24/7 free; park
Time Required	120 mins
Location	Sōma, Fukushima Prefecture
Coordinates	37.79803, 140.91431
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2016
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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