Ara Castle (Murakami Clan Fort Network)

History

Arajō is twinned with Ushibusejō below on the same mountain ridge. The ridgeline was thought to resemble a cow lying down, and if that is so then Arajō was the cow’s buttocks. Smaller than Ushibusejō, the castle was likely used as a signal fort. Both castles were part of the Murakami Renju Toride. See my profile on Murakami-Kokuzōsanjō for more information: Murakami Kokuzousan Castle.

Visit Notes

Arajō sits above Ushibusejō on the same ridge. It cannot be missed climbing from Ushibusejō but the way is quite long and steep. It is another single bailey fort, like Ushibusejō, with trenches to the rear dug into the ridge, except overall its dimensions are smaller than Ushibusejō’s. One interesting feature of Arajō, however, is that the mountainside dorui (earthen rampart) segment is very thick, almost as wide as the bailey it protects it seems. Given its girth maybe this dorui was used as the foundations of a small tower? Beneath it are two horikiri (trenches).

Gallery

Main Bailey with rear dorui

Castle Profile
English Name	Ara Castle (Murakami Clan Fort Network)
Japanese Name	村上荒城
Founder	Murakami Yoshikiyo
Year Founded	Sengoku Period
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Dorui, Horikiri
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Ascend from Ushibuse Castle or descend from Mt Tarou.
Visitor Information	24/7 free; mountain
Time Required	40 minutes
Location	Ueda, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates	36° 25' 35.36" N, 138° 15' 9.54" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2021
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed
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