Isobe Castle

History

Some local legends say a castle existed here as early as the Kamakura Period, but there has never been an excavation to determine if a fortification may have existed here during that time period or not. The castle ruins you see today are obviously from the mid 1500's. It was most likely built by Takeda Shingen in his battles with the Annaka at nearby Matsuida Castle (6 km away) or Annaka Castle (2.5 km away). It may have also been built as a satellite fortification by the Hojo, but the Takeda theory seems to make the most sense.

Visit Notes

The castle is remarkably well preserved. Given the location on a fairly small mountain I wouldn't have been surprised if it had been developed over for some nice housing with a view or other public facility. The main approach to the honmaru is well maintained with signs pointing out the main features, which are mostly small baileys and trenches. What's really interesting about this site is if you try to walk those trenches all around the castle. You can see their size and the layout of the castle much better that way.
この城は見事に残されています。公園としても整備されているので年中訪れても大丈夫なようです。こじんまりした城の割には堀や曲輪がとても充実している。整備されている場所だけではなく空堀を奥まで歩くと、なおさら空堀の役割がよくわかります。山城初心者にも大変おすすめな城跡です。

Loading map...

Gallery

Ninomaru Bailey
Sannomaru Trench
Trench
Sannomaru trench
Sannomaru Bailey
Trench
Trench
View of the Umadashi and 2 trenches from the Ninomaru bailey
Koshiguruwa, a side bailey
Koshiguruwa, a side bailey
Koshiguruwa, a side bailey
Ninomaru entrance
Watchtower foundation that overlooks the umadashi and Ninomaru entrance
Koshiguruwa, side bailey
Ninomaru bailey
Obikuruwa, a thin "ribbon bailey" around a main bailey
Trench
Trench
Trench
Trench
Trench
Trench
Map
The castle mountain

Castle Profile
English Name	Isobe Castle
Japanese Name	磯部城
Founder	Takeda Shingen (?)
Year Founded	mid 1500's
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Local Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Isobe Sta (Shin'etsu line), 15 min walk
Visitor Information	Park, open any time
Time Required	45 mins
Location	Annaka, Gunma Prefecture
Coordinates	36° 17' 52.40" N, 138° 51' 39.78" E
Loading map... {"type":"TERRAIN","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"mappingservice":"googlemaps","width":"auto","height":"200px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"Castlemarker.png","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":6,"layers":[],"controls":[""],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":false,"poi":true,"cluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":[],"searchmarkers":"","fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":36.297888888889,"lon":138.86105,"icon":"../images/1/1e/Castlemarker.png"}]}
Admin
Added to Jcastle	2018
Admin Year Visited	2018
Admin Visits	March 11, 2018

1.00

(one vote)

Enable comment auto-refresher

FurinkazanDaimyo

16 months ago

Score 0

09/05/2023. After visiting Annaka, I took the train to the next station on this line, Isobe. Exiting from the station, one has to turn immediately to the right and follow the path, which becomes a street, until getting at a T-crossroad. Then look to the right and you will see a forested hill. This is Isobe castle.

To get to the castle follow the main road, until you see a sign of the entrance to the castle. The castle was somewhat overgrown, but you could still figure out some features, like karabori(dry moat)and dorui(earthen ramparts). There were signs indicating the kuruwa's(bailey) name.

Permalink | Reply