Onjouyama Fort

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OnjouyamaToride01.JPG

History

Onjōyama-toride, also known as Onjōyama-monomidai (look-out), is thought to have served as a branch fort of nearby Haibarajō. The fort, chiefly used as a look-out post, consisted of a small flattened area in two parts of around 10m by 14m surrounded by dorui (earthen ramparts). Unfortunately, the site saw excavation of earth for use as backfilling in construction projects and as a result all ruins of the fort were destroyed around 1993. Who knows where the earth which was once sculpted into ramparts ended up! Scattered to the winds.

See Haibara Castle for more information.


Visit Notes

I tried very hard to find something definitive here but it was ultimately in vain because the site of this fort site, Onjōyama-toride, has been completely obliterated. The layout of the mount is nonetheless quite interesting as it terminates in a cultivated area with a good view of the fertile slopes of Nakayama. So at least I was able to get a sense of how the area would have been suitable for a small fortified look-out like Onjōyama-toride. And nearby I also found the site of an ancient state-owned ranch. I had no idea that such places existed. It seems these pastures, subordinated to the Imperial Ministry of War, were used as places to breed and keep horses for use by the Imperial army, as well as for farming. This site, the Haibara-maki, was one of two in Chikuma District (though another source I found includes an additional smaller one), and one of sixteen in Shinano, that province accounting for half of all such ranches in eastern Japan. A signboard I found by chance informed me of this.




Gallery


Castle Profile
English Name Onjouyama Fort
Japanese Name 御城山砦
Alternate Names 御城山物見台
Founder Haibara Clan
Year Founded 1583
Castle Type Mountaintop
Castle Condition Ruins only
Historical Period Pre Edo Period
Features
Visitor Information
Access Nearest station is Hirata Station on the Shinonoi Line
Visitor Information Reclaimed by Nature
Time Required 20 minutes
Location Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates 36° 10' 49.48" N, 138° 0' 24.05" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle 2021
Contributor ART
Admin Year Visited Viewer Contributed


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