Unagizuka Castle (Mikawa)
Nothing remains of Unagiźukajō, and the site is now fields and factories. The site is on the border of the municipalities of Okazaki (via Motojuku) and Toyokawa (via Nagasawa), and a sort of restored entrance area beside the highway can be found here for the former inn-town of Motojuku.
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History
Unagiźukajō was a hillside fort likely used as a borderland fort and satellite fortification protecting Nagasawa, a valley to the immediate east where there are many fortified residence sites. ‘Unagiźuka’ means ‘eel mound’, and there is a legend in Nagasawa that villagers built a sacred mound at this site to protect against the tatari (‘divine wrath’) of the giant eel slain by Sakanōe Tamuramaro, Japan’s second shogun (8th century). It’s not clear to the author where the eel lived, or whether it was attacking villagers or just minding its own business when Tamuramaro slew it. Many legends and impressive feats are associated with Tamuramaro, and so my assumption is that slaying the giant eel was something he did just casually whilst passing through.
Field Notes
Nothing remains of Unagiźukajō, and the site is now fields and factories. The site is on the border of the municipalities of Okazaki (via Motojuku) and Toyokawa (via Nagasawa), and a sort of restored entrance area beside the highway can be found here for the former inn-town of Motojuku.
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| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Unagizuka Castle (Mikawa) |
| Japanese Name | 三河鰻塚城 |
| Founder | Nagasawa Clan |
| Year Founded | Medieval Era |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Motojuku Station on the Meitetsu Nagoya Line; 15 minute walk |
| Hours | 24/7 free; fields |
| Time Required | 5 minutes |
| Location | Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 34.88253, 137.26587 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2023 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Shashin Kiroku | |
| Aichi Shiro | |
