Umeyabu Yashiki
Umeyabu-yashiki is a fortified residence site in Chiharazawa Township, Okazaki Municipality. The locale (koaza) is called Umeyabumae. Umeyabu means 'Plum Scrub'. I like to think that in its day the compound was surrounded by plum blossom trees. But now it only lives up to the second part of its name
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History
In 1305 the Ao Clan received the manor of Hadanashi from the Ashikaga Shogunate. Ao Keigan built Umeyabu-yashiki at the tip of a ridge extending toward the Oto River. In addition to being a residence, the compound likely also worked as a sentry protecting the entrance to the valley of Hadanashi. In 1324, Ao Morihiro became castellan. In 1350, Ao Tamehiro became castellan. The Ao Clan relocated from Hadanashi in 1564. It seems that Umeyabu-yashiki was replaced by Hadanashijō before that time, likely with the onset of the Sengoku period when greater protection was needed.
Field Notes
Umeyabu-yashiki is a fortified residence site in Chiharazawa Township, Okazaki Municipality. The locale (koaza) is called Umeyabumae. Umeyabu means 'Plum Scrub'. I like to think that in its day the compound was surrounded by plum blossom trees. But now it only lives up to the second part of its name: this site is completely overgrown with impenetrable scrub. It sits on a tall bluff between two deep creeks. The closest I got was finding some old stone-lined weirs above the creeks. I came beneath the bailey where the earth looked sheered. I climbed the scarp but the plant life held me back. Something large was crawling through that scrub, and then it either heard me or caught my scent and darted off through the tall grass.
I also checked on the ridge above this site to try to determine if the yashiki ever made use of an elevated redoubt, but found nothing strongly suggestive. Faint suggestions perhaps, but no formations were consistent. Maybe the ridge had a look-out on it, but that's all I'd venture. The yashiki site is made up of terraces but these were likely made for rice paddies in later times along with the stonewalls there. I couldn't even find these, mind.
Gallery
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Umeyabu Yashiki |
| Japanese Name | 梅藪邸屋敷 |
| Founder | Ao Keigan |
| Year Founded | 1305 |
| Castle Type | Fortified Manor |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | stone walls |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Otogawa-Seseragi-michi / Aichi Prefectural Route 37; trail from southwest. |
| Hours | Access Limited |
| Time Required | 20 mins |
| Location | Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 34.93951, 137.24658 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2025 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Aichi Rekishi Meguri | |
| Jōkaku Shashin Kiroku | |
| Aichi Shiro | |
