Kaneyama Castle (Mutsu)

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Mutsukaneyama5.jpg

History

The Sōma clan expanded from their ancestral territory, known today for the breeding of horses, into the interior, fighting back the Date clan. Kaneyamajō was built as a frontier castle in 1566 and in 1570 the Sōma conquered the Date castle of Marumorijō on the other side of the river. In 1581 the Date returned to besiege Kaneyamajō, led by Munemoto Nakajima, a vassal of Date Terumune. Date Masamune’s first entry into war was at this siege. In 1584 the Sōma retreated and Munemoto Nakajima became castellan. The Date built stonewalls here and the rectangular blocks of stone are similar, albeit more roughly worked, to those used at Aobajō, the Date’s headquarters. Throughout the Momoyama and Edo Periods, Kaneyamajō served as a frontier castle of the Date clan, ran by their hereditary vassals the Nakajima, until the Meiji Restoration. Kaneyamajō was abandoned following the Boshin War and left to ruin.


Visit Notes

Kaneyamajō is a mountaintop castle ruin. It is well maintained and sign posted. There are many well-defined baileys to explore and the honmaru (main bailey) at the top of the castle offers vast views of the surrounding plain. Kaneyamajō’s highlight is an impressive, jutting segment of uchikomi-hagi ishigaki (rough-hewn stone wall). The lower blocks project out forming a staircase-like shape at the base. The Abukuma River flows by the castle. We took the winding road following the river to the castle. It has great scenic beauty with towering rocks and kawakishi (river beaches) hemming the river bank.




Gallery


Castle Profile
English Name Kaneyama Castle (Mutsu)
Japanese Name 陸奥金山城
Founder Soma Clan
Year Founded 1566
Castle Type Mountaintop
Castle Condition Ruins only
Designations Local Historic Site
Historical Period Pre Edo Period
Features stone walls
Visitor Information
Access Marumori Station on Abukuma Express Line is the nearest sation
Visitor Information 24/7
Time Required 1 hour
Location Marumori, Miyagi Prefecture
Coordinates 37° 53' 54.78" N, 140° 48' 26.28" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle 2017
Contributor ART
Admin Year Visited Viewer Contributed


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