Yougai Castle
要害城
| Founder | Takeda Nobutora |  |
| Year | 1520 | |
| Type | Mountaintop | |
| Condition | Ruins | |
| Alternate Name | Yougaiyama Castle, Yougaisan Castle | |
| Admin's Rating | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ | |
| Historical Site | National Historic Site | |
| Location | Kofu, Yamanashi Pref. | |
| Map | Google Map | |
| Access | Kofu Sta; take the bus for Takeda Shrine/Sekisuiji from the North Side of the station. 15 mins, get off at Sekisuiji | |
| Website | Yamanashi Sightseeing | |
| Visited | Viewer Donated | |
| Notes |
There are a lot of stone walls and earthwork remaining and the trail is well-maintained. Signposts explaining the importance of sites are low down and relegated to two sentences in Japanese at most. Half way up there is a stone statue of the Takeda Fudo Myojin, (a statue of a Buddhist deity sacred to Takeda Shingen and carved with the likeness of his face), similar to the famous one at Erin-ji temple at Enzan. There is a monument to the birth of Lord Takeda Shingen at the top. The trail seems to be popular amongst joggers and there is a course from Tsutsujigasaki to Yougai-san.
Notes and history by Kris |
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| History | Built in 1520 (Eisho 17) by Takeda Nobutora. This site served as a regional centre and office for the Takeda clan and also as a fortress or stronghold to retreat to in case Tsutsujigasaki Yakata was ever attacked. In contrast to the more spread-out palatial style of Tsutsujigasaki, Yougai Castle was on top of a steep mountain and had lots of masugata, koguchi and kuruwa as well as occasional vertical moats, making it very easy to defend against an invading army and extremely hard to take over. It was also protected by several forts at a lower location, including Kuma-jo to the south-east, and the remains of many buki-yashiki have been found in the area around the castle. The actual buildings on top of the mountain were believed to have been quite large and impressive – there are even the remains of some rocks from a Japanese garden – and there are several hot springs in the area. Yougai-san was the birthplace of famous Sengoku Warlord Takeda Shingen, Nobutora`s son, and was held by three generations of the Takeda clan although it was never tested against an invading army. It was, perhaps foolishly, passed over by Shingen`s son, Katsuyori, in favour of his new capital at Shinpu. The castle is believed to have been repaired and used by outside forces after the demise of the Takeda clan. | |
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2 Viewer Comments
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Kris
September 17, 2012 at 09:01 PM
I'm very sorry if the information here caused you to have a bad time. The information I supplied was accurate to the best of my knowledge as at December 2011. The season may have had something to do with the view and quality of the trail – perhaps this castle is better in winter without leafy trees blocking the views (I could see Mt Fuji quite clearly) and weeds covering the track – the track was clear and easy to walk when I went. In any case, I am very sorry if you found it misleading. Steepness and value of what is remaining is subjective – it's always good to have another opinion. The monument isn't much to look at but it is a stone saying this is the place Takeda Shingen was born, and the writing was even inscribed by Togo Heihachiro, so I guess it depends on what history you are looking for as to how much you enjoy a place. It's interesting you mention the smallness – I guess the smallness of the castle was why Shingen used Tsutsujigasaki Yakata as his base, and also possibly why Katsuyori felt the need to build a new, larger castle as the capital and in order to combat the Oda advance.
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Craig
September 15, 2012 at 07:24 PM
The information given here was wrong and very misleading! I've just got home from a big hike to this castle. It is not reachable by a well mainted joggers road for the final km or so, there you have to hike up a mountain along a very steep and somewhat badly maintained path, It is quite a struggle and takes a good half hour (and this is after an hour or so's walk from the station). At the top there isn't too much to be seen. A little monument and some still visible outline of the outer walls. Looks like it was once a very small castle indeed! The views too aren't that spectacular due to all the trees. Onlk really recommended if you live in Yamanashi and fancy some hiking.
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Kofu, Yamanashi Pref.
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