Chifuruya Castle (Sanada)
History
Chifuruyajō, also called Kumaojō together Negoyajō, was first built in 1533 by Murakami Yoshikiyo. The Sanada captured the castle in 1551 with the fall of Toishijō. Thereafter Ôguma Asahide was installed as the new castellan. He was under the command of Yamagata Masakage of the Takeda Clan, so Asahide's command of Chifuruyajō, so close to Sanada territory, may suggest some degree of apprehension on the Takeda Shingen's part toward Sanada Yukitaka. It seems to be a strategic decision with future politics in mind at least. Chifuruyajō was twinned with the larger Sanada Negoya Castle on the taller hill to the immediate north.
Visit Notes
I called the site "dubious" in my initial report, and for a while I thought this might be a phantom castle, but I eventually found some information on it (in this case the shirotabi site came to my rescue). No tangible remains of the castle are said to be present. I found some indication of moved earth at the site, but it didn't look castle-shaped. There was a "moat" but it looked too wide and shallow. Other depressions looked natural. There was a large, sacred boulder, and the scenery was quite interesting at least.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Chifuruya Castle (Sanada) |
| Japanese Name | 真田千古屋城 |
| Alternate Names | Kumaojō |
| Founder | Murakami Yoshikiyo |
| Year Founded | 1533 |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Ueda Station on the Shinano Railway; Sugadaira Bus from Ueda Station No.3 Bus Stop |
| Visitor Information | Free; 24/7; Mountain |
| Time Required | 30 minutes |
| Location | Ueda, Nagano Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 36° 26' 53.09" N, 138° 17' 32.82" E |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2020 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
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