Ohshio Castle (Azumi)
Ôshiojō is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) ruin in the Ôshio neighbourhood of Miasa Township, Ômachi Municipality. Ôshiojō has a compact but satisfying layout. It is a single bailey complex made up of a central bailey, terraced in the middle, surrounded by concentric sub-baileys and terracing, inclu
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History
Local legend holds that Ôshiojō was first built by Minamoto Yoshishige (son of Kiso Yoshinaka) during his war with Abe Sadakatsu in the early Kamakura period, but the ruins we see today date to much later. In the Sengoku period Ôshiojō was likely (re-)built by the Nishina Clan as part of a chain of forts protecting this mountainous hinterland of the territory from the likes of the Murakami Clan to the east. It is also speculated that Yamagata Masakage built the fort for use during his attack on Senmijō to the north.
Field Notes
Ôshiojō is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) ruin in the Ôshio neighbourhood of Miasa Township, Ômachi Municipality. Ôshiojō has a compact but satisfying layout. It is a single bailey complex made up of a central bailey, terraced in the middle, surrounded by concentric sub-baileys and terracing, including an obikuruwa (belt bailey) which rings the entire hilltop. The ridge which leads to the fort is protected by trenches and embankments. There is also a prominent corner segment of dorui (earthen ramparts) on the portion of the obikuruwa which overlooks the ridge.
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| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Ohshio Castle (Azumi) |
| Japanese Name | 安曇大塩城 |
| Founder | Nishina Clan; Yamagata Masakage |
| Year Founded | Early Kamakura Period or Sengoku Period |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Kuruwa, Hori, Dorui, &c. |
| Features | trenches |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Shinano-Ômachi Station on the Ôito Line; rental e-bike |
| Hours | 24/7 free; mountain |
| Time Required | 40 minutes |
| Location | Ômachi, Nagano Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 36.53427, 137.88822 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2023 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Hōrōki | |
| Ranmaru | |
| Yogo | |
