Komoro Castle

History

During the Sengoku Period Takeda Shingen founded Komoro Castle on the grounds of two earlier castles called Otome Castle and Nabebuta Castle to help administer the Eastern Shinshu area. Sengoku Hidehisa became lord of the castle in 1590 and later his son Tadamasa expanded the castle further. The original Otemon gate (Important Cultural Property) and the foundation of the tenshu date from this time period.

Visit Notes

The Otemon is on the oppsoite side of the station from the main park and Sannomon. Be sure to visit it too.

Gallery

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  Sannomon Gate

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  Otemon gate

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  Otemon Gate

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  stone wall foundation of the main keep

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  stone walls, Ninomaru bailey

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  This is where the guardhouse stood just to the left of the stairs in the previous picture.

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  stone walls

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  stone walls

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  stone walls

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  stone walls

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  dry moat

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  weapons storehouse

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  view from the castle

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  map

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  stone wall foundation

Castle Profile
English Name	Komoro Castle
Japanese Name	小諸城
Founder	Takeda Shingen
Year Founded	1554
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	Top 100 Castles, has Important Cultural Properties
Historical Period	Edo Period
Artifacts	Otemon Gate, Sannomon Gate
Features	gates, turrets, trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Komoro Sta. (Koumi Line, Shinano Testudou); 5 min. walk.
Visitor Information
Time Required
Website	http://www.city.komoro.nagano.jp/kankou/kaikoen/index.html
Location	Komoro, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates	36° 19' 38.50" N, 138° 25' 1.99" E
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Admin
Year Visited	2008
Visits	October 16, 2008
Added to Jcastle	2008

2.83

(12 votes)

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Anonymous user #1

23 months ago

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I certainly agree that it deserves 4 or even 5 stars. For once, we don't see a 20th century reconstructed castle, but authentic ruins in a wonderfully lanscaped garden. Pity one of the m ain gates is on the other side of the train tracks..

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ARTHatamoto

31 months ago

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One three-tiered portion of ishigaki is built from black volcanic rocks.

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RebolforcesAshigaru

97 months ago

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The gardens behind were in full cherry blossom bloom. Was a beautiful place to visit

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KrisGunshi

103 months ago

Score 0

Komoro is Stamp Heaven. In addition to the 100Meijo stamp, (in the office to the side of the museum), I got thirteen other stamps, (I didn't even go to the art gallery or the zoo), and the custodian at the museum, when he saw I collected stamps, brought out a 'rare' one that they don't use anymore. The museum had a good assortment of different things to look at. The grounds are kind of busy, home to lots of different buildings, but still very pleasant to walk around. Also, the souvenir shops had a good range of Takeda goods; I bought discounted 'Furinkazan' mechanical pencils from 2007, Kansuke, Lord Takeda and Uesugi, (the shop owner had probably given up all hope of ever getting rid of them). I don't know that I would give it 4 stars, even if I give extra stars because of the Takeda factor, but it is a convenient stop on the way to Ueda and Nagano and thoroughly worth seeing.

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RaymondWHatamoto

117 months ago

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Get off the train, and the castle site is just a few minutes walk away. This castle ruin has plenty of ishigaki, but there are no surviving turrets or castle keep. It does have an original “Sannomon” gate and the recently renovated “Otemon” gate, which is all by itself on the other side of the train tracks. There was a volunteer guide at the Otemon, and from what she told me in Japanese, the Otemon was converted into a restaurant at one stage, and that renovation was only completed last year. A 600yen ticket gets you into the grounds and includes entry to some museums plus the zoo (which I skipped.) Sorry Eric, but I tend to agree with Furikazan that this castle should rate only three stars because there are not enough of the original fortifications left. The museum on the grounds has more scrolls and calligraphy but less samurai armour and weapons on display than Ueda City Museum.

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FurinkazanHatamoto

119 months ago

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I went there in last april. I don't think it deserves 4 stars.The gates and the park are nice and the museum is worth a visit. I would give it a 3 stars.

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