Isawa Castle

History

Isawa Castle was built in 802 by Sakanōe Tamuramaro after his series of victories against the Emishi tribesmen the previous year. The Chinjufu-shōgun, under the command of the Seiitai-shōgun, was relocated from Tagajō to Isawajō following the expansion northward of the Yamato state. The Emishi were eventually subjugated or migrated to Ezo (Hokkaidō). Isawa no Ki remained the seat of the Chinjufu-shōgun until 1083 when Minamoto Yoshiie became governor of Mutsu Province.

Visit Notes

Isawa Castle was a classical era Jōsaku style fort. These earlier types of fortification consisted of wooden palings, moats and pounded earth walls with archer platforms and imposing gates, resembling walled administrative centers or palaces in their layout. Isawa Castle is rendered Isawa no Ki in contemporary Japanese but is now also called Isawajō (same kanji). I also call it Isawa no Saku. Nothing remains today except some mounds of earth, and the site is mostly fields and rice paddies. There is also a shrine on the former castle grounds, Chinjufu-Hachimangū, which venerates the historical figures connected with the construction of the castle. I found some description boards and stone markers. There are some earthwork remains here but I did a bad job photographing them. The land is mostly fields now.

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Castle Profile
English Name	Isawa Castle
Japanese Name	胆沢城
Alternate Names	Isawa no Saku
Founder	Sakanōe Tamuramaro
Year Founded	802
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	National Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features
Visitor Information
Access	Kanegasaki Station on the Tohoku Main Line; 45 minute walk
Visitor Information	Free, 24/7
Time Required	45 minutes
Location	Oushuu, Iwate Prefecture
Coordinates	39° 10' 45.73" N, 141° 8' 7.51" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2018
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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ARTShogun

27 months ago

Score 0

It seems there's a large amount of restored dorui here. Would like to go back but it's a wee bit out the way ^^"

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Anonymous user #1

27 months ago

Score 0 You

It seems there's a large amount of restored dorui here. Would like to go back but it's a wee bit out the way ^^"

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