Nakasato Castle
Nakasato Castle is a mountain castle constructed at Nakadomari Town in the west Tsugaru Peninsula.
As this place where is on plateau faced to the Tsugaru Plain was a stronghold, it was already utilized in the Jomon Period, several thousand years ago.
The place highly developed in the 10th century. At that time, they formed a moat-surrounded settlement, and they were not under the control of Kyoto Government but Emishi living from Hokkaido to northern Tohoku District. When Kyoto's power reached there, the castle was abandoned once. The castle was revived in the 15th century when the Ando clan, which had acquired power by trade based on Tosa-minato Port, ruled this area. However, the Ando was defeated by the Nambu clan and escaped to Hokkaido in the middle of 15th century. Then Nakasato castle was abandoned again.
The castle consisted of three enclosure; First enclosure in the north, Second enclosure in the south and Third enclosure in the west. The largest First enclosure had a main role in the castle.
(The map was based on GSI Map powered by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan. *the locations of enclosures or others are my speculation, so they may not be correct.)
(by local guide board)
I climbed to the site from the parking lot at the east side. We can go through Shinmeigu Shrine at the south side.
Here is the parking lot.
Then I arrive at First enclosure.
The enclosure was surrounded by moat.
It was apparent that the depth of moat was deeper than the height of the person by excavation.
Furthermore, the fence holes which indicated that the enclosure was surrounded by fence as well were discovered.
In the site of castle, an ancient house trace is reproduced.
There was supposed to be such a house.
We can enter the site from a guard frame of Shinmeigu Shrine.
Here is Second enclosure at the south side.
This is the view of the Tsugaru Plain from castle's observatory. I imagin that residents in the Heian Period commuted to work from here to the lower plain.
(Date of visit : 14th June 2014)
➣ Access Information
● Address | Nakasato-kameyama, Nakadomari-machi, Kita-tsugaru-gun, Aomori Map |
● Transportation | 10 minutes from Tsugaru Railway Tsugaru-nakasato station on foot 19km from Tsugaru Expwy Goshogawara-kita IC via National route 339 |
● Parking | Nakasato Historical Site Park Parking (free : Spot 'P' pointed on the above map) |
● Other sights | Fukushima Castle |
➣ No Wikipedia article
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