Watanabe Yashiki (Kai)
Watanabe-Hitoyanosuke-yashiki was the residence of Watanabe Hitoyanosuke, also known as Watanabe Mori. Hitoyanosuke was the leader of the Kuishiki-shū, a war band of provincial warriors. The Kuishiki-shū served the Takeda Clan, guarding the southern borders of Kai Province, the Takeda home territory
History
Watanabe-yashiki is a medieval residence site in Motosu village of Fujikawaguchiko Township in historical Tsuru County. Stone walls of pumice blocks are piled around enclosures, but these are typical of the area, and so it's not clear to me what structure exactly the yashiki had. Between two fields bordered by low walls of stone blocks is a modern fence used to keep wildlife out of the village. Just beyond this to the right there is a sort of terraced area with a cenotaph for Watanabe Hitoyanosuke, the lord of the manor. Some old looking rows of volcanic stone blocks on mounds surround this space, and so perhaps this was the cente of the residence.
The site also contains the remains of a storage area for gunpowder (referred to as Ensho-yashiki). The larger stone blocks forming a corner segment of ishigaki are apparently the remnants of the kayakuko (magazine). The site appears at first like it might be on private property but is indicated by a signpost.
Field Notes
Watanabe-Hitoyanosuke-yashiki was the residence of Watanabe Hitoyanosuke, also known as Watanabe Mori. Hitoyanosuke was the leader of the Kuishiki-shū, a war band of provincial warriors. The Kuishiki-shū served the Takeda Clan, guarding the southern borders of Kai Province, the Takeda home territory. Takeda Katsuyori was defeated by Oda Nobunaga in 1582; when Oda Nobunaga was toppled in turn, Tokugawa Ieyasu invaded Kai, and Watanabe Hitoyanosuke allied with him, opening up the way into the Kai Basin. Hitoyanosuke accompanied Tokugawa forces to Shinpujō, the new nexus of Tokugawan power in Kai, but his home area near Fuji was soon invaded by the Hōjō. Hitoyanosuke and other members of the Kuishiki-shū returned to defend Motosujō, and mounted a valiant defence. For this service, Hitoyanosuke became a direct retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and was given territory in Musashi following the relocation of the Tokugawa franchise to Kantō in 1590. His descendants served the Tokugawa as hatamoto (bannermen), and, during the Edo period, they or a branch of the family apparently returned to Motosu to police the checkpoint to the south of Motosu village.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Watanabe Yashiki (Kai) |
| Japanese Name | 甲斐渡辺屋敷 |
| Alternate Names | 渡辺囚獄祐屋敷・煙硝屋敷 |
| Founder | Watanabe Mori / Watanabe Hitoyanosuke |
| Year Founded | 16th Century |
| Castle Type | Fortified Manor |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | stone walls |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Kawaguchiko Stn. on the Kawaguchiko Line; Lake Motosu Sightseeing bus (45mins) to Sekirui Iriguchi bus stop. |
| Hours | 24/7 free; fields |
| Time Required | 10 minutes |
| URL | Castle Website |
| Location | Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35.46475, 138.60407 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2025 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Hōrōki | |
| Jōkakuzukan | |
