Aratame Castle

History

Aratamejō is a very old site (despite the name), and may have been founded in the Nara period as the Rusuden, which was the kyokan (residence) of the deputy governor of Dewa Province. In 1062, shortly after the relocation of the provincial capital to nearby Kinowa Castle, Minamoto Yoshiie dispatched the Sudō Clan to the area, and they renovated Aratamejō as their fortified residence. The Sudō Clan used it as a base during the conflicts in the area during the late 11th century. The Sudō Clan changed their name to the Rusu Clan to legitimise their ownership by connecting their lineage to the original deputy governors of the area, and the Rusu Clan ruled throughout the Sengoku period. In the lead up to the battle of Sekigahara the Rusu fought for the Western Army as vassals of the Uesugi Clan. Aratamejō was abandoned in the Edo period after 1615.

Visit Notes

Aratamejō, located in the Mototate township of Sakata Municipality, is thought to be the oldest fortified residence site in Shōnai, and also the longest continually inhabited in the prefecture. Mototate could mean ‘original fortified residence’. The ruins of Aratamejō feature dorui (earthen ramparts) and a segment of mizubori (water moat). The site is now a shrine in a forested grove.

There is a mound of mysterious origin in a field behind the shrine. I, having come to the back of the shrine, found no obvious path through to this field, and so maybe it is accessed from a different place; that is to say I missed the mound, so I can’t give my opinion. Castle-bloggers don’t seem to agree, but some say this is a yaguradai (a platform for a small tower).

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Gallery

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  Mizubori (water moat) around shrine
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  Dorui
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Castle Profile
English Name	Aratame Castle
Japanese Name	新田目城
Alternate Names	Dewa-kuni Rusuden (出羽国留守殿)
Founder	Dewa Province; Sudō Clan / Rusu Clan
Year Founded	Nara Period; 1062
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Prefectural Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Mizubori, Dorui, &c.
Features	water moats
Visitor Information
Access	Mototate Station on the Uetsu Line; 7 minute walk to shrine
Visitor Information	Open 24/7; free (shrine)
Time Required	30 minutes
Website	https://www.dewatabi.com/syounai/sakata/aratame.html
Location	Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture
Coordinates	38° 58' 4.76" N, 139° 53' 19.64" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2023
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed
Friends of JCastle
Yogo
Jōkaku Hōrōki
Tōhoku Jōkan
Kojō Seisuiki

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