Tatai Castle

History

In the Shinputōki (信府統記), a historical chronicle of Shinano Province, the lord of Tataijō is listed as Tatai Ôsumi, though no date is given. He is presumed to have been a local lord living in Tatai. There is also a tombstone in the area bearing an inscription mentioning a Tatai Yasuemon. The Tatai fell under Takeda Shingen's umbrella as he expanded into Shinano. They would later relocate south to Nishimaki-gō (later: Azusagawa-mura). Tataijō was the main fortified space in a complex of fortifications consisting also of Tataijōmonomi-toride, a fortified look-out, Tataifurujō, the "old castle" located at lower, less defensible elevation, and the Tatai-yakata, the clan's fortified manor hall.

Visit Notes

Tataijō’s ruins consist of a main bailey with a very tall earthen rampart segment to the mountainside rear. Beyond this are two trenches. Beneath the main bailey the ridge is terraced in multiple bands where it climbs. These micro baileys move up the ridge like a pair of footprints with one to the right and then to the left slightly above. Around the north side of the main bailey there are long, narrow koshikuruwa (straddling hip-baileys).

I followed the instructions of an esteemed castle blogger, Osirozuki, to reach this site. The road had changed somewhat from his visit, as trees have been cut back and a fence to prevent animals entering into the village below erected. I was able to identify particular rocks and trees to confirm the right path. These directions only took me to the ridge though, and from there I had to find my own way up! The initial part was very steep so I climbed up like a drunk tanuki.

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Gallery

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  Rear earthen ramparts of main bailey

Castle Profile
English Name	Tatai Castle
Japanese Name	田多井城
Founder	Tatai Ôsumi
Year Founded	Sengoku Period
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Dorui, Karabori, Kuruwa
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Nearest station is Nakagaya Station on the Ôito Line; 10 minute drive or 60 minute walk to trailhead
Visitor Information	24/7 free; mountain
Time Required	40 minutes
Location	Azumino, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates	36° 16' 54.08" N, 137° 50' 19.79" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2021
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed
Friends of JCastle
Osirozuki

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