Kawashimamurako Castle

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Kawashimamurakojou (2).jpg

History

Kawashimamurakojō, also known as the Ôta-yashiki, was the fortified reisdence of Ôta Kazue and Ôta Samanosuke in the late 16th century. The compound was trapezoid in layout with east-west moats running for 90m, and north-south moats at least 120m long. The clan would later go on to serve the Mito-Tokugawa, but a branch of the family continued to inhabit the ancestral residence.


Visit Notes

Kawashimamurakojō ('Old Castle of Kawashima Village') is a fortified residence site in the Kawashima Township of Anjō Municipality. The locale (koaza) is called Ôtayashiki, and Kawashimamurakojō was also known as Ôta-yashiki, wherein 'yashiki' means 'residence'. The ruins of Kawashimamurakojō consist of earthworks in the form of dorui (earthen ramparts) and moats.

The western and northern segments of the ramparts are well preserved. There is a small section remaining to the east. In the south is the main entrance of the modern residence, the inheritor of the medieval manor hall, and here there are no ramparts, but there is a tall black fence and nagayamon (gatehouse).

The architecture looks old, and I wouldn't be surprised if parts of it date to the Edo period. The old walls, mounds, ditches, gates, storehouses and interconnected residence halls certainly give the impression of an Edo period compound here, but, of course, the residence is occupied and not open to the public.

The profile of the yashiki was retained, according to castle-bloggers, with moats and embankments all, as a means of preventing flood damage in the event that the nearby Yahagi River should over-flow. That could account for the ruins surviving so long.




Gallery
  • Dry moat around property


Castle Profile
English Name Kawashimamurako Castle
Japanese Name 河島村古城
Alternate Names 河嶋村古城・太田屋敷 (Ôta-yashiki)
Founder Ôta Kazue
Year Founded Late 16th Century
Castle Type Fortified Manor
Castle Condition Ruins only
Historical Period Pre Edo Period
Artifacts Dorui, Hori
Features water moats
Visitor Information
Access Horiuchi-Kōen Station on the Meitetsu-Nishio Line; 25 minute walk
Visitor Information Access Limited
Time Required 15 minutes
Website https://blog.goo.ne.jp/midorishako/e/0bbb4fa4347f88b0ba25ba9bde158a9e
Location Anjō, Aichi Prefecture
Coordinates 34° 55' 28.27" N, 137° 6' 25.96" 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
Shiseki Tanbōki


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