Kajiya Castle
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History
Kajiyajō was built by Amano Sadakuni in 1472. The Amano Clan were once powerful locally. Kajiyajō is otherwise known as the Amano-yashiki. In 1555, when Matsudaira Motoyasu (Tokugawa Ieyasu) was still a boy, he was out hunting in the area and got caught in heavy rain. Amano Sadauji, the then lord of Kajiyajō, sheltered him at his residence. It is said that whilst Motoyasu was staying there, Okudaira Sadanao took the opportunity to attack Kajiyajō in a night raid, attempting to kill the young Motoyasu, and forcing him to flee. At that time the Hijika-Okudaira had rebelled against Imagawa Yoshimoto, and as a result clashed with Matsudaira forces. Matsudaira Yoshiharu prosecuted the war against the rebels at that time, but Okudaira Sadanao had some early victories before the Imagawa were able to capture Hijikajō.
The Amano Clan became vassals of the Matsudaira Clan in the Sengoku period. It seems they either did not relocate to Kantō with Tokugawa Ieyasu, or that a branch of the clan remained in place here, as the same Amano family still lives on the hillside today, and it was this Amano family who purchased the gate from Okazaki Castle which is now found on-site.
Visit Notes
Kajiyajō is a hillside castle ruin and medieval fortified residence site in Kajino Township, Okazaki Municipality. The fort site is now occupied by a residence, and ishigaki (stone-piled retaining walls) can be seen in up to four bands forming an impressive corner segment. Segments of ishigaki can be found throughout the site. Tall segments of ishigaki can be found terracing the hillside to the rear of the residence as well. It's not clear to me when these stone walls were built, but they were certainly built by the same clan that built the castle as they continued to inhabit the site.
Kajiyajō is now also the site of an extant castle building, a small gatehouse which was relocated here from the north bailey of Okazakijō in 1873. This red gate now stands against what looks to be a workshop.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Kajiya Castle |
| Japanese Name | 鍛冶屋城 |
| Alternate Names | Amano-yashiki (天野屋敷) |
| Founder | Amano Sadakuni |
| Year Founded | 1472 |
| Castle Type | Hilltop |
| Castle Condition | No main keep but other buildings |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | gates, stone walls |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | I cycled from downtown Okazaki. 'Hello Cycle' bicycles are available to rent in Okazaki. |
| Visitor Information | Access Limited |
| Time Required | 15 minutes |
| Website | https://yachou-kojou.seesaa.net/article/202208article 17.html |
| Location | Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 34° 58' 43.43" N, 137° 16' 32.66" E |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2023 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Shashin Kiroku | |
| Umoreta Kojō | |
| Aichi Shiro | |
| Yogo | |
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