Taya Castle (Azumi)

History

Details for Tayajō are unknown, unfortunately, though it seems unlikely that the castle builders were anyone other than the Nishimaki Clan, whose main mountain fortress was at Azumi Nishimaki Castle to the east, and main fortified residence was Ota Yakata. An older residence of the Nishimaki Clan, Nakamura Yakata, existed below Tayajō in what is now the village of Taya / Ueno, but it seems Tayajō was built in a later time period.

Visit Notes

Exploring the ruins of Tayajō involved a difficult climb, starting from the Hachiman shrine in Taya Village, and working my way up the mountain via thin, zigzagging paths - game trails, I think - where I could find them, and crawling when I couldn't. Eventually I came to a ridge which I was able to follow to the top of the mountain, which was the center of the castle. Here I passed over some horikiri (trenches) and through some minor baileys before arriving at the shukuruwa (main bailey). The shukuruwa has a prominent koshiguruwa (sub-bailey) beneath it on one side, and a narrower one on the other, as well as a large karabori (dry moat) to the rear, separating it from the rest of the mountain. I also found what I took for ido (well) ruins.

Gallery

Castle Profile
English Name	Azumi Taya Castle
Japanese Name	安曇田屋城
Founder	Nishimaki Clan
Year Founded	Sengoku Period
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Kuruwa, Horikiri, Tatebori, Koshikuruwa, Ido, Karabori
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Hata Station on the Kamikouchi Line; 48 minute walk
Visitor Information	24/7 free; mountain
Time Required	50 minutes
Location	Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates	36° 12' 47.52" N, 137° 49' 47.42" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2020
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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