Nakanomiyama Castle
Nakanomiyamajō is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) ruin in Akechi Township, Ena Municipality. Ruins are earthworks such as dorui (earthen ramparts), baileys and trenches. The layout of the fort is of twin bailey complexes. These are divided by a horikiri (trench), which slopes off into a tatebori (cl
[[||class=img-responsive]]
History
Nakanomiyamajō was a satellite fortification of Akechijō, built to help control the route which ran through the valley from Mino Province on to Shinano Province. Indeed, the structure of Nakanomiyamajō is similar to that of Akechijō but on a smaller scale. The Akechi Nenpu refers to a fort called Manǵabora-toride, and it is thought that this refers to Nakanomiyamajō (Manǵabora may be the name for the valley the fort overlooks). That same document also mentions one Tôyama Yosōzaemon, and it is thought that he may have been the castellan of Nakanomiyamajō.
Field Notes
Nakanomiyamajō is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) ruin in Akechi Township, Ena Municipality. Ruins are earthworks such as dorui (earthen ramparts), baileys and trenches. The layout of the fort is of twin bailey complexes. These are divided by a horikiri (trench), which slopes off into a tatebori (climbing trench). To the rear of the eastern bailey is a nijū-horikiri (double layer trench). The eastern bailey is also protected by unejōtatebori (an array of climbing trenches) on its northeastern face.
Both bailey complexes are surrounded by terraced sub-baileys. I climbed from the Inari shrine up a ridge which was terraced, and divided by horikiri, to the western bailey. The northwestern face of the western bailey has renzoku-tatebori, which is a climbing trench array like unejōtatebori but less compact. There is also a southerly unejōtatebori group on the hillside between the two baileys, but I wasn't able to get a good look at these on the steep hillside.
Gallery
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Nakanomiyama Castle |
| Japanese Name | 中深山城 |
| Alternate Names | Manǵabora-toride (万ヶ洞砦 ) |
| Founder | Tôyama Yosōzaemon |
| Year Founded | Sengoku Period |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Horikiri, Unejōtatebori, Renzoku-tatebori, &c. |
| Features | trenches |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Akechi Station on the Akechi Railway; or, bus from Mizunami Station on the Chūō Line; 15 min walk to trailhead. |
| Hours | 24/7 free; mountain |
| Time Required | 45 mins |
| Location | Ena, Gifu Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35.30024, 137.39395 |
|
|
|
| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2025 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Hōrōki | |
| Yogo | |
