Odayama Castle (Aizu)
History
Odayama Castle was established by the Ashina Clan in 1354, and Ashina Noamori made renovations to the castle in 1384. In 1568 the Ashina moved to Mukaihaguroyamajō (Mukaihaguroyama Castle) and Odayamajō was abandoned. In the Koguchi-ato in 2006 a wooden gate was reconstructed by the city but it has since been removed. Palings were also erected along an earthen rampart ruin, but now it is overgrown and looks like just a wooded hill.
Visit Notes
I came here under the impression that parts of the Sengoku Period fort had been reconstructed. There was a sign at the trail head warning of the presence of bears. I picked up a large Y-shaped stick for our protection. In jest I called out the bears. Somewhere up the mountain a young man was singing as loud as possible. We came to a couple of former look-out nests, and, going deeper into the undergrowth toward the ruins of a trench, I discovered very fresh bear dung. The path winding onward went back down the mountainside so we turned back. I was still to find any reconstruction efforts. Using old pictures to discern the shape of the trees in the background I eventually identified a slope with signs of being built on in the recent past. Here had stood a gate and wooden palings, but for some reason they had been pulled down. It was quite the disappointment for so much adventuring. The best thing about coming here turned out to be the view of Aizu Wakamatsu Castle on the plain.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Aizu Odayama Castle |
| Japanese Name | 会津小田山城 |
| Founder | Ashina Clan |
| Year Founded | 1354 |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | 郭・堀切・土塁・物見台 Kuruwa, Horikiri, Dorui, Momomidai (Viewing Platform) |
| Features | trenches |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Nishi-Wakamatsu Station on the Tadami Line; walk 50 minutes |
| Visitor Information | 24/7; free |
| Time Required | one hour |
| Location | Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 37° 28' 44.54" N, 139° 56' 46.50" E |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2019 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
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