Moriya Castle

From Jcastle.info

Moriya6.jpg

History

There are various theories about the start of this castle and the history itself is not well known. The most likely theory is that it was built by Chiba Morotsuna of the powerful Chiba clan. After moving to this region, called Soma, he took on the name Soma and the castle was named Soma Castle. During Hideyoshi's siege of Odawara, Asano Nagamasa attacked the Soma and took the castle. When Tokugawa Ieyasu moved to Edo, he put Toki Sadamasa in charge of the Soma lands. The castle was decommissions in 1628.


Visit Notes

This is a short walk from Moriya Sta and worth a visit if you are in the area. You could also visit nearby Takai Castle. I had actually planned to visit this as an extension of my Ushiku Castle cycling trip but got a flat tire on the way to Takai Castle and had to visit it another time. The castle itself was originally built on a small peninsula into the swamp giving it much natural protection. See this site for a good illustration. Much of the swamp has since been filled in and developed over.
守谷駅から約20分で歩いて行けます。気が向いたら高井城まで歩くこともできます。元々は 牛久城から自転車のサイクリング城め巡りで行く予定でしたが、途中でパンクしてしまって断念してしまって、高井城で断念しました。


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Gallery
  • Trench and modern day entrance
  • Outer embankment
  • Outer embankment
  • Trench between the main bailey and second bailey
  • Bailey
  • Small bailey before the main bailey, could be an umadashi entrance
  • Bridge over the main bailey trench
  • Embankment of the main bailey
  • Embankment of the main bailey
  • Outer embankment
  • Main Bailey
  • Main bailey & embankment
  • Castle entrance
  • Castle entrance
  • Cross section of an embankment
  • Water filled these channels around the castle
  • Map


Castle Profile
English Name Moriya Castle
Japanese Name 守谷城
Alternate Names Soma Castle
Founder Chiba Morotsune
Year Founded Kamakura Period
Castle Type Flatland
Castle Condition Ruins only
Designations Local Historic Site
Historical Period Pre Edo Period
Features trenches
Visitor Information
Access Moriya Sta (Tsukuba Express line); 20 min walk
Visitor Information park, open any time
Time Required 40 mins
Website http://www.city.moriya.ibaraki.jp/tanoshimu/rekisibunka/bunkazai/shiteibunkazai/syokai/ichiriduka.html
Location Moriya, Ibaraki Prefecture
Coordinates 35° 57' 1.62" N, 140° 0' 19.62" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle 2017
Admin Year Visited 2017
Admin Visits September 3, 2017


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