Yamabe Castle

I took a taxi (3000yen) from Matsumoto to Yamabe Castle (Tokuunji Temple). There is a bus that goes to the temple but they are very few and I would have had to wait 90 minutes for the next one. I also had my Brompton bicycle with me. From the Tokuunji Temple I walked up the western slope that starts

History

A branch family of the Suwa Clan founded Tokuunji Temple at the foot of the mountain in the Kamakura Period and changed their name to Yamabe. They became the leaders of the town and built the first castle here. The Yamabe Castle we see today is from a later period and has likely undergone several renovations. The first historical mention of Yamabe Castle is 1490 when it was attacked by Ogasawara Nagatomo and came under the territory of the Ogasawara. Orino Masaharu, a branch of the Ogasawara clan came to Yamabe in 1505 and was renamed Yamabe Masaharu. Yamabe Castle was attacked by Takeda Shingen along with Kirihara Castle, Hayashiohjo Castle and other Ogasawara castles in the area in 1550. Yamabe allied with Takeda and became lord of Yamabe and Kirihara castles.

Field Notes

I took a taxi (3000yen) from Matsumoto to Yamabe Castle (Tokuunji Temple). There is a bus that goes to the temple but they are very few and I would have had to wait 90 minutes for the next one. I also had my Brompton bicycle with me. From the Tokuunji Temple I walked up the western slope that starts from the back side of the graveyard (left side of the temple). There are no signs until you get close to the main part of the castle, but the “trail" is not difficult to follow. Along the way, there are several small baileys and trenches that a castle fan should be able to pick out. The stone wall is amazing. It’s definitely the tallest and longest around the Matsumoto area. It’s easy to get around the stone wall and lots of good angles for pictures. Just beyond the main bailey are a series of 4 large trenches and a couple more baileys. On the way down I took the more direct route via a bunch of switchbacks that lands you at the opposite side of the temple. Steeper and less to see, but I think it’s a good quick way down. I would recommend the same course to anyone visiting Yamabe Castle. After Yamabe Castle I cycled to Kirihara Castle.

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Gallery

Stone walls of the main bailey
Trail up the mountain along the western ridge
Small bailey on the west ridge
Small bailey on the west ridge
Trenches along the west ridge.
Vertical trenche along the west ridge
Small bailey on the west ridge
Vertical trench along the west ridge
Terraced bailey
Baileys on the western ridge
Bailey on the western ridge
Baileys and trenches
Trench
Vertical trench
Horikiri trench across the ridge
Path up to the central bailey
Horikiri trench
Bailey
Stone wall remnants
koshiguruwa bailey
Stone walls of the main bailey
Stone walls of the main bailey
Stone walls of the main bailey
Stone walls of the main bailey
Stone walls of the main bailey
Stone walls of the main bailey
Stone walls of the main bailey
Main bailey stone walls.
Stone walls of the main bailey
Stone walls of the main bailey
Cliff face and trench on the east side of the main bailey
Stone walls of the main bailey
Main bailey
Embankment around the main bailey
Horikiri trench
Stone wall in the upper right
Horikiri trench
Horikiri trench
East ridge baileys
embankment and bailey
View from the mountain
Tokuunji Temple.

Castle Profile
English Name	Yamabe Castle
Japanese Name	山家城
Alternate Names	Yanbe-jo, Nakairi-jo
Founder	Yamabe Clan
Year Founded	late 15th C.
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Prefectural Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Matsumoto Sta. (Shinonoi Line), bus or taxi (3000 yen)
Hours	mountain, open any time
Time Required	150 mins.
URL	Castle Website
Location	Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates	36.22198, 138.05221
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2016
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2015
Admin Visits	October 30, 2015

3.50

(2 votes)

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