Shinpukuji Castle (Mikawa)
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History
Shinpukuji is considered the oldest temple in Aichi Prefecture, founded in 594 by Mononobe Shinpuku. It is thought that Shinpukujijō, a fort built near or around the temple in the early 16th century, was the castle of the Ôoka Clan. Ôoka Tadakatsu, a vassal of Matsudaira Hirotada, was likely the castellan. The Yamaguchi-kaidō, an important trade route, runs through the valley beneath the temple, and the fort likely played a role in guarding it.
Additionally, it is said that when Ôta Dōkan attacked the Ôishi Clan during the Murayama Campaign of Nagao Kageharu’s War, he set up camp for ten days here in 1476. The temple-mount itself may not have been able to accommodate a large army, but it is speculated that a watchtower was built atop of it.
Visit Notes
Shinpukujijō is a temple-castle site in the Shinpukuji Township of Okazaki Municipality. As for castle ruins nothing definitive remains, and the centre of the fort is not identified. Since the temple was already in place, it may be that the fort was made chiefly through fortifying the temple. The temple itself, Shinpukuji, a temple of the Tendai sect, is an important historical site; the main gate is a designated cultural property of Okazaki Municipality. I was especially pleased with the tahōtō, a wooden stupa dating to the early Muromachi period. I went to the top of the hill; there is significant terracing on the way up, and the top has been sculpted, but it’s hard to know for sure if these now empty spaces were once fortified. At one point I thought I’d struck on defensive cutting made into the ridge, but this quickly turned out to be a grotto with a small statuette inside.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Shinpukuji Castle (Mikawa) |
| Japanese Name | 三河真福寺城 |
| Founder | Ôta Dōkan; Ôoka Tadakatsu |
| Year Founded | 1476; early 16th century |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Nearest Station is Kitanomasuzuka Station on the Aichi Loop Line |
| Visitor Information | 24/7 free; temple |
| Time Required | 30 minutes |
| Location | Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35° 0' 20.56" N, 137° 11' 8.84" E |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2023 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Shashin Kiroku | |
| Shiro Meguri | |
| Aichi Shiro | |
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