Kanayama Castle (Echigo)

From Jcastle.info
(Redirected from Echigo Kanayama Castle)

EchigoKanayamajou (12).JPG

History

Kanayamajō's history is not well documented but it is thought to have served as a branch castle of Fudōsanjō located across the valley.


Visit Notes

Kanayamajō in Echigo Province is a respectable mid-sized castle site with a host of features typical to yamajiro, including kuruwa (baileys) of several kinds, dorui (earthen ramparts), koguchi (gate complexes), horikiri (trenches), and tatebori (climbing moats). The ridge beyond the shukuruwa (main bailey) is perforated by five impressive trenches cut through earth and rock into the ridge. Before the shukuruwa is a series of terraced baileys with dorui and what I guessed was a gate site. From the shukuruwa one can get a good view of the interior valley and the mountain range where Fudōyamajō is located on the one side, and the Nihonkai (Japan Sea) on the other.

Kanayamajō is a little difficult to find. There is a sign on route 8 to the west of Kajiyashiki Station which indicates the direction of the castle. Follow this road and go underneath the by-pass, but before passing beneath the shinkansen railway turn left. This forestry road winds up to the castle. It’s possible to go all of the way to the beginning of the castle and park with a capable vehicle. I took the road beneath the shinkansen at first because it looked like it went close to the castle mount but this only ended in a dead-end in a valley.


Loading map...


Gallery
  • Main Bailey / Shukuruwa


Castle Profile
English Name Kanayama Castle (Echigo)
Japanese Name 越後金山城
Founder 山本寺景貞
Year Founded Nanbokuchou Period or later
Castle Type Mountaintop
Castle Condition Ruins only
Designations Local Historic Site
Historical Period Pre Edo Period
Artifacts Kuruwa, Horikiri
Features trenches
Visitor Information
Access Kajiyashiki Station on the Nihonkai Hisui Line; 8 minute walk to trailhead
Visitor Information 24/7 free; mountain
Time Required 60 minutes
Location Itoigawa, Niigata Prefecture
Coordinates 37° 2' 51.50" N, 137° 54' 29.41" E
Loading map...
Admin
Added to Jcastle 2021
Contributor ART
Admin Year Visited Viewer Contributed
Friends of JCastle
Hōrōki


3.00
(one vote)
Add your comment
Jcastle.info welcomes all comments. If you do not want to be anonymous, register or log in. It is free.