Mochizuki Castle (Koka)

History

We generally attribute Mochizuki Castle to the leader of the 53 Koka Clans but there is no historical evidence linking the Mochizuki to this specific castle. Mochizuki Castle is one of the largest of the Koka Castles and generally considered to be the most complex and well developed in terms of design. Such developments may have also been the result of helping to defend the Rokkaku giving the above theory more credibility. Mochizuki Castle was also one of the key castles controlling the route into Iga along with Sugitani Castle.

See Castles of Koka for more details

Visit Notes

The main bailey is 65m x 62m with embankments measuring 8.75m wide at the base and up to 9m in high in some places. It's companion castle Mochizukishi Castle is only 50m away across a small valley but is a distinct castle in the yakatajiro design. Mochizukishi Castle is just across a small valley and it should be considered that the two worked together as one fortification. Today it is somewhat difficult to get from one to the other since there is no good path and with thick vegetation to wade through so you might as well go around.

One of my materials from the Koka City has a note glued inside that said that Mochizuki Castle and Mochizukishi Castle are on private property and the owner does not permit strangers on their property. This is probably why there are no signs or trails, unlike most of the other famous Koka castles, and the entrance to each is hard to find. I did not see this before I visited and there are no "no trespassing" signs, but other castle go'ers visit both sites too, so use your best judgment and be respectful.

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Castle Profile
English Name	Mochizuki Castle (Koka)
Japanese Name	望月城
Founder	Mochizuki clan
Year Founded	Muromachi Period (1336-1573)
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Konan Sta. (Kusatsu Line), 60 min walk
Visitor Information	private property
Time Required	50 mins
Location	Koka, Shiga Prefecture
Coordinates	34° 55' 9.23" N, 136° 8' 57.70" E
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Collections	Koka Castles
Admin
Added to Jcastle	2022
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2022
Admin Visits	February 11, 2022
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