Kameyama Castle (Mikawa)

History

Kameyamajō was originally built in 1424 by Okudaira Sadatoshi following the construction of Kawajirijō in the same valley. Five generations of Okudaira lorded the castle. The fourth son of Okudaira Nobumasa, Matsudaira Tadāki, was lord of Tsukude Domain (valued at 17,000 koku) and of the castle when it was abandoned in 1610. Tsukude Domain was abolished at that time and Tadāki was transferred to Ise-Kameyama Domain, becoming the lord of Kameyama Castle – from Mikawa-Kameyamajō to Ise-Kameyamajō. This naturally made me wonder if Tadāki was the only lord to have been the lord of two castles with the same name consecutively, or if there are other examples.

Visit Notes

Kameyamajō is a hilltop fort ruin in Tsukude Village, Shinshiro Municipality. Features include dorui (earthen ramparts), kuruwa (baileys), karabori (dry moats) and other earthworks. Of all of the fort sites in Tsukude, this one seems to be considered the main one, and is also called Tsukudekojō (‘Tsukude Old Castle’) or simply Tsukudejō. The site is well maintained as a park and traditional festivities are held here. With two carparks the site is easy to access and sits above the Tsukude Tezukuri-mura which offers, as per the name (it’s a pun on the village’s name), handicrafts and homemade food, including from a very popular meat vendor.

Kameyamajō’s layout is very satisfying. It is concentric with a spacious main bailey on top. The main bailey is ensconced by tall dorui. Below is a deep karabori on the sides, with more baileys fore and aft. The second bailey, also surrounded by dorui, has an impressive angled gate complex. The southern karabori is embossed with outer dorui and small baileys, most prominently the eastern bailey and southern bailey. The eastern bailey also retains dorui, but the southern bailey is narrow and just looks like a big embankment flattened on top. To the west is a koshikuruwa (hip-bailey) with trenches on both sides, but these were both a bit overgrown so I didn’t thoroughly explore that side of the castle. There is a western bailey which forms a series of terraces on the approach to the main bailey. The western bailey has forward-facing dorui. It has a koshikuruwa below.

Gallery

Dorui around main bailey

Castle Profile
English Name	Kameyama Castle (Mikawa)
Japanese Name	三河亀山城
Alternate Names	Tsukudejō
Founder	1424
Year Founded	Okudaira Sadatoshi
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Local Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Karabori, Dorui, Kuruwa
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Route 301
Visitor Information	24/7; Free; Park
Time Required	60 minutes
Website	https://www.city.shinshiro.lg.jp/kanko/meisyo/kameyamajyoato.html
Location	Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture
Coordinates	34° 57' 49.43" N, 137° 25' 23.88" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2023
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed
Friends of JCastle
Kojōdan
Jōkaku Hōrōki
Sirotabi
Shiseki Yawa

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