Karatoriya Castle

History

Karatoriyajō was a satellite fortification of Aida-Kokuzōsanjō. For more info’ see: Aida Kokuzousan Castle.

Visit Notes

Karatoriyajō is an outer fortification of the Aida-jōkangun, a complex of forts centred on Aida-Kokuzōsanjō. Unlike the others, Karatoryajō is on another mountain to the northwest of Mount Kokuzō. Karatoriyajō is an earthworks fort. It has a small main bailey. The ridges to the northeast and southwest are pitted with horikiri (trenches), and to the northwest there is a spur of small terraced baileys which climb up to the castle like a giant stairway. Anybody trying to assault this area would’ve been met with row after row of defenders which could fire projectiles over each other to hit the enemy. Since this is in the north it may have been anticipated, or hoped, that Uesugi forces would attack here along this easy-to-defend, hard-to-assault corridor. The ledges may have also hosted huts for the castle’s garrison, since the main bailey above is very small. I didn’t investigate what some believe to be ruins along the southeast ridge, as it’s by all accounts a tough climb with little to see. There is a depression here which some think was an area for mustering troops, but it’s unknown. A small flattened peak may have acted as a bulwark.

Karatoriyajō protects two passes, Hanagawara Pass to the east, and Tachi Pass to the west. I hiked to the castle mount via Tachi Pass. There was a flattened area there which once hosted a rest-house for travellers going between the mountain valleys and basins which make up this alpine area. Since the climb from the Hanagawara side is apparently quite arduous, I’d recommend taking the Tachi route to the castle site. Opposite the trail to the Tachi pass is another trail which grants access to Kokuzōsan. I’d already been up there so as to visit Utsutsujō and some other ruins. I actually climbed all the way back up to Kokuzōsanjō to appreciate the view, which is magnificent. Tree cover obstructs the view from Karatoriyajō, though Kokuzōsanjō can be seen looming above between the foliage.

In checking the readings for the above mentioned passes I came cross a site dedicated to mountain passes, ‘Tōge Oyaji’: https://tougeoyaji.ciao.jp/

Gallery

main bailey and castle marker
Flattened area where travellers rested
Castle mount from Mt Kokuzou; main bailey is on right peak
Climbing Trench / Tatebori

Castle Profile
English Name	Karatoriya Castle
Japanese Name	唐鳥屋城
Founder	Aida Clan
Year Founded	Kamakura Period
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Horikiri, Kuruwa
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Bus from Matsumoto Station
Visitor Information	24/7 free; mountain
Time Required	60 minutes
Location	Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates	36° 22' 18.77" N, 138° 0' 24.95" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2023
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed
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