Tomono Castle (Saku)
Tomonojō, also called Nozawajō and Tomono-yakata, is a hirajiro (flatland castle site) in urban Saku Municipality. Ruins consist of tall, thick dorui (earthen ramparts) and segments of a mizubori (water moat) around a central bailey. The fort (or fortified residence) has a square(ish) layout and a
History
Tomonojō was originally built as the yakata (fortified manor hall) of the Tomono Clan in the Kamakura period by Tomono Tokinaga, and was subsequently expanded outward to encompass secondary, tertiary and outer baileys. The Tomono Clan was founded by Ogasawara Tokinaga, the sixth son of Ogasawara Nagakiyo, who was granted Tomono Manor as his fief. The Ogasawara were the hereditary governors of Shinano Province.
In 1285, Tomono Nagayasu and many of his clansmen were executed for the clan's part in the Shimotsuki Incident, a succession crisis in the Kamkura Shogunate, but Tomono Nagafusa restored his clan's fortunes by pledging allegiance to Ashikaga Takauji at the start of the Muromachi period. It was from this time that Tomonojō was rebuilt and expanded.
In the late 15th century, the clan also built Maeyamajō, a hilltop fort about 3km directly to the west, to serve as a redoubt. Maeyamajō became the main Tomono headquarters, and the Nozawa branch of the clan remained in place to occupy Tomonojō (also called Nozawajō). In the mid' 16th century the clan submitted to Takeda Shingen following his invasion of Saku County.
Following the sudden demise of Oda Nobunaga in 1583, Yoda Nobushige invaded Saku County, conquering and razing both Maeyamajō and Tomonojō. Tomonojō continued to see some use during the Momoyama period as Sengoku Hidehisa, lord of Komorojō, used it as a compound for storing rice grain paid as taxes. It seems the castle was decommissioned by the Edo period.
Field Notes
Tomonojō, also called Nozawajō and Tomono-yakata, is a hirajiro (flatland castle site) in urban Saku Municipality. Ruins consist of tall, thick dorui (earthen ramparts) and segments of a mizubori (water moat) around a central bailey.
The fort (or fortified residence) has a square(ish) layout and a footprint of about 85m east-west and 110m north-south. The fort's entrance was to the south where the rampart line has been demolished. The particularly thick and tall, bulbous berm behind the shrine's prayer hall is thought to be a yaguradai, a platform for a keep.
It seems the fort was once much more expansive with secondary, tertiary and outer baileys, but only ruins of the honmaru (main bailey) remain. The site today is now a park, called Shiroyama Park, and a shrine, Ôtomo-jinja. There some lovely autumunal trees colouring the scene when I visited. I had a nice time making my way around the ramparts.
Gallery
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Tomono Castle (Saku) |
| Japanese Name | 佐久伴野城 |
| Alternate Names | Tomono-yakata (伴野館) / Nozawajō (野澤城) |
| Founder | Tomono Tokinaga; Tomono Nagafusa |
| Year Founded | Kamakura Period; 1285 |
| Castle Type | Flatland |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Mizubori, Dorui, Kuruwa, Yaguradai |
| Features | water moats |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Nakagomi Station on the Kōmi Line; 20 min walk |
| Hours | 24/7 free; park |
| Time Required | 30 mins |
| URL | Castle Website |
| Location | Saku, Nagano Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 36.22589, 138.46902 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2025 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Hōrōki | |
| Jōkakuzukan | |
