Hirase Kitano Castle
History
See Hirase Castle
Visit Notes
I had been to one small part of Hirase-Kitanojō before, as it is part of a complex of fortifications on Mount Hirase, but at that time I had no idea about its scale. The northern castle at Hirase is as vast as the main part, but much less developed, and so it is difficult to identify ruins. I was surprised to realise that I had been to only the very edge of this site, and that so much more existed continuing up the mountain. This ruin is the hard mode for anyone wishing to visit Hirasejō. After visiting here I returned to Uenoyamajō to take a path which looked almost certain to lead me safely back down. There was even a handy rope... which ended abruptly in a large coil. The path had suddenly ended! I used the rope to lower myself down the steep slopes until it finally ran out. At that time there was a series of simple dams terracing the ravine, so I followed these down. At one point I found what looked like a huge stalactite clinging to one of the concrete dams.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Hirase Kitano Castle |
| Japanese Name | 平瀬北ノ城 |
| Founder | Hirase Clan |
| Year Founded | Sengoku Period |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | trenches |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Access via road from Uenoyama Castle or the hiking trail via Hirase Castle |
| Visitor Information | Free; 24/7; Mountain |
| Time Required | 40 minutes |
| Location | Azumino, Nagano Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 36° 17' 27.38" N, 137° 57' 1.87" E |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2020 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
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