Matsuda Yakata

From Jcastle.info

MatsudaYakata03.JPG

History

Matsuda-yakata was built as the fortified manor house of the Matsuda Clan during the Sengoku period. The head priest of the Hachimangū Takemizubetsu-jinja resided here in the Edo period. The Matsuda family had deep ties to the Imperial Palace in Kyōto. Matsuda Naoyuki, the last clan patriarch before the Meiji Restoration, served the Shinuitai who were a troop in charge of guarding the palace. His diary describes the 1868 attack on British ambassador to Japan, Sir Harry Parkes. Sir Parkes, though seeking a peaceful resolution to the crises of the Bakumatsu period, supported the reformation camp, which earned him the ire of reactionaries who attempted to assassinate him three times, one of which Matsuda's diary alludes to. Other important documents kept by the Matsuda Clan include a 1790 floorplan of the Imperial Palace. In 2017 the Omoya (main building) of the complex burnt down and several other structures were also damaged in the fire. One structure, the Saikan, has since been restored.


Visit Notes

Matsuda-yakata, also called Kannushi-yashiki, is a fortified manor house, rebuilt as a yashiki in the Edo period, not dissimilar to the Shimosaka-yakata. Unfortunately the main hall, which was around four centuries old, burnt down in 2017. Some restoration work has restored one of the damaged structures, but fire damage is still evident. Structures from the Edo Period, such as gates and out-buildings, nonetheless remain. The residential complex is surrounded by dorui (earthen ramparts). There is a large shrine adjacent, also partially surrounded by dorui. We may infer from the name Kannushi-yashiki that the shrine and yashiki have an interwoven history, since Kannushi refers to a Shintō priest in charge of a shrine.




Gallery


Castle Profile
English Name Matsuda Yakata
Japanese Name 松田館
Alternate Names 八幡宮武水別神社神主屋敷
Founder Matsuda Clan
Year Founded Sengoku Period
Castle Type Fortified Manor
Castle Condition No main keep but other buildings
Designations Prefectural Historic Site
Historical Period Pre Edo Period
Artifacts Dorui, Gates, Mizubori, Residential Structures
Features gates, palace, water moats, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access Obasute Station on the Shinonoi Line; 35 minute walk
Visitor Information Access Restricted
Time Required 60 minutes
Location Chikuma, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates 36° 31' 8.83" N, 138° 6' 6.59" E
Loading map...
Admin
Added to Jcastle 2020
Contributor ART
Admin Year Visited Viewer Contributed


3.00
(one vote)
Add your comment
Jcastle.info welcomes all comments. If you do not want to be anonymous, register or log in. It is free.