Yuzawa Castle

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Yuzawa1.jpg

History

Yuzawa Castle was built by Onodera Michisada in 1277 to guard the south of Ogachi district. Yuzawa Castle supplemented nearby Inaniwa Castle where the Onodera clan was based for much of the feudal era. In 1593 the Mogami began their invasion of Ogachi District. Over a period of 10 days the Mogami had defeated a series of forts leading up to Yuzawa Castle, and by that time their soldiers were exhausted and, confronted with Yuzawajō, they had to pull back. However, several years later a renewed invasion saw Yuzawa Castle surrounded by thousands of soldiers, many of them from nearby Yuri District. Isolated and with no reinforcements from the Onodera forthcoming, the defenders fought on but it was futile. The castle fell to the Mogami. From 1602 the Satake Clan controlled the castle from Akita. In 1620, per the “one country, one castle” ordinance, Yuzawa Castle was demolished.


Visit Notes

Visiting Yuzawajō was a hiking adventure. Luckily there were sign posts indicating the castle ruins, so I was able to find and identify all of the features without getting too lost. The view from the top of the mountain was also impressive as one could see all of Yuzawa spread out below.

Profile and photos contributed by AdamT




Gallery


Castle Profile
English Name Yuzawa Castle
Japanese Name 湯沢城
Founder Onodera Michisada
Year Founded 1277
Castle Type Mountaintop
Castle Condition No main keep but other buildings
Historical Period Pre Edo Period
Features gates, trenches
Visitor Information
Access Yukawa Sta. (Ou Main Line), 15 minute walk
Visitor Information 24hr/ free
Time Required 2 hours
Location Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture
Coordinates 39° 9' 35.39" N, 140° 29' 57.44" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle 2016
Contributor ART
Admin Year Visited Viewer Contributed
Friends of JCastle
Jōkaku Hōrōki
Kojō Seisuiki


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(one vote)
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ARTShogun

38 months ago
Score 0++
updated to "other buildings"
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ARTShogun

89 months ago
Score 0++
Yuzawajō was a hiking adventure. Luckily there were sign posts indicating the castle ruins, so I was able to find and identify all of the features without getting too lost. The view from the top of the mountain was also impressive as one could see all of Yuzawa spread out below.