Nishi Sakabe Castle

Nishi-Sakabejō is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) in Mie Township, Yokkaichi Municipality (Mie Prefecture gets its name from Mie County which in turn presumably gets its name from Mie Township). The site is now a park, aptly named Shiroyama Park. Ruins remain in the form of dorui (earthen ramparts),

History

Nishi-Sakabejō was built by Hagiwara Kotarō on the orders of Wakana Gorō circa 1204. These men supported the Ise-Taira-led Mikka-Heishi Rebellion which was soon crushed by the Kamakura-bakufu. The fort may have been controlled by the Akahori Clan in the 15th century.

Field Notes

Nishi-Sakabejō is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) in Mie Township, Yokkaichi Municipality (Mie Prefecture gets its name from Mie County which in turn presumably gets its name from Mie Township). The site is now a park, aptly named Shiroyama Park. Ruins remain in the form of dorui (earthen ramparts), though many segments are overgrown with bamboo grass and difficult or impossible to see. There are several flattened spaces on the hillside, particularly at the top, that were the fort's kuruwa (baileys).

The 'nishi' in 'Nishi-Sakabejō' means 'west', and there is also a Higashi-Sakabejō to the east on the opposite side of the River Kaizō; however, each site is named for the township it is in or near, and the two do not appear to be related.

Gallery

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  Castle marker
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  Main bailey and signboard
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  Rare visible portion of dorui in lower bailey
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  Cut into ramparts
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  Projecting raised area of main bailey
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  Sub-bailey. Dorui to side but overgrown.
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  Terraced bailey beneath main bailey, with dorui
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  Sub-bailey. Dorui to side but overgrown.

Castle Profile
English Name	Nishi Sakabe Castle
Japanese Name	西坂部城
Founder	Hagiwara Kotarō
Year Founded	c.1204
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Dorui, Kuruwa
Features
Visitor Information
Access	Bicycles can be rented at JR Yokkaichi Station
Hours	24/7 free; park
Time Required	25 mins
Location	Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture
Coordinates	34.99113, 136.58483
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2025
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed
Friends of JCastle
Jōkaku Hōrōki
Umoreta Kojō
Oshiro Tabi Nikki
Takujirō no Zenkoku Nihon Oshiro meguri

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