Souma Nakamura Castle

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Somanakamura1.jpg

History

The area hosted forts as far back as the 9th century. In 1337 the Nakamura built a fortified headquarters on the site and ruled into the Sengoku period. In 1563 Sōma Takatane conquered the castle. Around this time the dispute between the Sōma and Date clans was intensifying and the Sōma, based at Odaka Castle, stationed a vassal at Nakamurajō to keep the Date at bay. In 1611, Sōma Toshitane moved the Sōma headquarters from Odakajō to Nakamurajō, at which time the Nakamura fief was worth 60,000 koku. In 1868 Meiji forces conquered Nakamurajō during the Boshin War, and in 1871 the site was abandoned.


Visit Notes

Easy to access from Soma station, about a 10-15 minute walk. The baileys go out beyond the castle moats and ponds, a large site.

The park is lovely in autumn, I last came here in Spring. Certain changes have occurred since then. The good news is that trees have been cut back to show the form and walls of the castle. Whilst this creates a very different atmosphere from what I remember in Spring, it does provide a much clearer view from the foot of the hill. The grass underneath the ascending bridge into the Honmaru has also been trimmed, making it easy to get a good look at the ishigaki without having to fight one’s way through the bush.

Profile and photos contributed by ART.




Gallery
  • Outer Ote Ichinomon Gate
  • Honmaru stone walls


Castle Profile
English Name Soma Nakamura Castle
Japanese Name 相馬中村城
Alternate Names Mutsunokuni Nakamura Castle
Founder Nakamura Asataka
Year Founded 1337
Castle Type Hilltop
Castle Condition No main keep but other buildings
Designations Prefectural Historic Site
Historical Period Pre Edo Period
Features gates, trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access Soma Sta. (Joan Line), 15 min walk
Visitor Information 24h/ free
Time Required 2 hours
Location Soma, Fukushima Prefecture
Coordinates 37° 47' 52.91" N, 140° 54' 51.52" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle 2016
Contributor ART
Admin Year Visited Viewer Contributed


3.00
(one vote)
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avatar

Jcastle.oldHatamoto

89 months ago
Score 0++
Thanks guys. I should have picked that up myself too. Fixed now.
avatar

ARTShogun

89 months ago
Score 0++

I may have made a mistake when filling out the profile form. Fukushima already has 3 Meijou sites:

Kasumigajou, Tsurugajou, Kominejou
avatar

FurinkazanDaimyo

89 months ago
Score 0++
Eric are you sure this one is in the 100 Top list? I don't see it in my stamp-book and neither in other's lists.
avatar

ARTShogun

89 months ago
Score 0++
The park is lovely in autumn, I last came here in Spring. Certain changes have occurred since then. The good news is that trees have been cut back to show the form and walls of the castle. Whilst this creates a very different atmosphere from what I remember in Spring, it does provide a much clearer view from the foot of the hill. The grass underneath the ascending bridge into the Honmaru has also been trimmed, making it easy to get a good look at the ishigaki without having to fight one’s way through the bush.