Aratoshou Castle

History

Aratoshōjō was built as a satellite fortification of Aratojō (Arato Castle); it means "Arato Lesser Castle".

Visit Notes

Aratoshōjō is a single bailey fort and fortified annex of Aratojō. The main bailey is twenty metres at its widest and fifty metres long. It’s most prominent remains consist of a row of dorui (earthen ramparts) along the northern perimetre of the bailey. It’s quite remarkable that such dorui remains relatively thick and tall here. There is no dorui on the south side. Perhaps it would’ve been more important to protect the north since that faced away from the Yamada Clan’s territory, but I also note that a modern forestry road runs beneath this bailey on the south side, and so it may be that part of the bailey was demolished to construct the road.

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Gallery

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Castle Profile
English Name	Aratoshou Castle
Japanese Name	荒砥小城
Founder	Yamada Clan
Year Founded	1524
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Dorui, Kuruwa
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Togura Station on the Shinano Railway; 10 minute drive or 60 minute walk to Arato Castle (parking available); trail starts on the ridge behind Arato Castle
Visitor Information	24/7 free; mountain
Time Required	20 minutes
Location	Chikuma, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates	36° 28' 46.74" N, 138° 8' 4.09" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2021
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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