History
The explanation stele at the site reads: "This place is the old site of Kaibai Castle. According to the Shimputōki (a historical document), it was the residence of a person called Takane Isemori". It goes on to mention that thereafter a local feudal lord built a castle here in medieval times, with his fortified residence orientated to the north, and a temple, Tōryūji, to the south bounded by a moat. All of this was destroyed by flooding of the Karasu River in the Late Sengoku Period. Since many clans were wiped out in war, it's interesting to speculate that one might've even been destroyed by a natural disaster. However, it is not known who occupied the fort at this time.
Visit Notes
A large memorial stone stands here to indicate the site as the former location of Kaibai Castle, but unfortunately there are no identifiable ruins. The site is now the Hotaka Meeting Hall (formerly it may have been the Hotaka Town Hall before the town was merged into the municipality of Azumino). The Oito Line railway also runs through the site. I came here as I had some time before getting the train back from Hotaka to Matsumoto.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Kaibai Castle |
| Japanese Name | 貝梅城 |
| Founder | Takane Isemori |
| Year Founded | Medieval Times |
| Castle Type | Flatland |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Hotaka Station on the Oito Line; 10 minute walk |
| Visitor Information | |
| Time Required | 10 minutes |
| Location | Azumino, Nagano Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 36° 20' 49.42" N, 137° 52' 55.99" E |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2020 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
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