Nasu Kanda Castle

History

The early history of the castle is mostly unknown with different theories buried in local stories. It was probably built in the early 1100's by the Nasu clan. The 6th generation lord moved to Inazumi Castle and Kanda castle was supposedly abandoned. While the main fortification of the Nasu clan may have moved, it is likely that this castle was in use until the Sengoku Period by other members or the family or other high ranking retainers.

Visit Notes

I actually missed the bus from Mumo Castle back to Karasuyama Station so I walked the roughly 5km to get hereinstead of waiting 2.5 hrs for the next one. It's a fairly easy road if you happen to be stuck between busses. The same bus that goes to Mumo Castle stops right in front of Nasu Kanda Castle so you can visit both on the same line, but the busses run few and very between. Otherwise it's a fairly minor castle ruin but it is also one of the very few fortified single bailey type castles from this time period with any ruins remaining today.
武茂城から烏山駅に帰る時にバスに遅れてしまって、２時間半待つより約5キロ離れた那須神田城まで歩きました。道も歩きやすいので同じ状況になったら歩いていくのをお勧めします。烏山駅ゆきの同じバスがこの城の前で止まるので便利です。ただし、本数がとても少ないのでご注意ください。この城跡は数少ない良好な方形単郭式なので国指定史跡になっています。

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Gallery

Castle entrance
Moat and embankment
Moat and embankment
Top of the embankment
earthen embankments
large bailey in the middle
entrance
Earthen embankment
Atop the earthen embankment.
entrance and embankment
Entrance
Entrance
Center bailey
Bailey and embankment
Map

Castle Profile
English Name	Nasu Kanda Castle
Japanese Name	那須神田城
Founder	Nasu clan
Year Founded	11-12th C.
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	National Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Karasuyama Sta. (Karasuyama Line), bus
Visitor Information
Time Required	30
Website	http://www.town.tochigi-nakagawa.lg.jp/22kankou/chizu/kuni/nasukanda.html
Location	Nakagawa, Tochigi Prefecture
Coordinates	36° 45' 6.73" N, 140° 7' 37.74" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2015
Admin Year Visited	2015
Admin Visits	April 16, 2015

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ARTShogun

78 months ago

Score 1

Nasu-Kandajō is a hirajiro (plainsland) castle consisting of a single rectangular bailey surrounded by dorui (earth-piled ramparts) and a moat. It is currently the site of a small shrine sitting on one of the corner ramparts and the enclosure is filled with rice paddies. Next to the castle a restaurant serves inoshishi (wild boar) meat. Ascending the ramparts the site is small enough to appreciate at a glance so it doesn't take long to explore it all.

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