Kasumi Castle

History

It's unknown when the castle was established but it was likely built by the Ohmuro clan who were long time local lords. After the fall of the Takeda in 1582, the Ohmuro briefly switched allegiance to Nobunaga's ally Mori Nagayoshi. When Nobunaga died shortly afterwards the Ohmuro allied with Uesugi Kagekatsu. The castle was likely abandoned when the Ohmuro moved to Aizu with Uesugi Kagekatsu in 1598.

Visit Notes

The castle is on the end of a ridge overlooking the plain where the Battles of Kawanakajima took place. It is a steep but short 10 minute climb to the top and well worth the visit. You don't find this extensive mountaintop stonework in such an accessible location elsewhere.
川中島古戦場を見下ろす山尾根の麓あたりに位置する城跡です。ちょっと急な山を登って約１０分で城跡に着きます。信濃の山城の石垣がこれほど充実しているかつ行きやすい山城は他にはないと思います。川中島古戦場、松代城、善光寺などへ近くに来た時は是非寄ってみてください。

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Gallery

Stone walls
Stone walls
Stone walls
Stone walls
Stone walls
bailey
Stone walls
Stone walls
Stone walls
Bailey
Stone walls
Stone walls
Stone walls
Stone walls
Stone walls
Stone walls
Stone walls
Stone walls
Stone walls
Stone walls
Stone walls
Stone walls
Stone walls
Stone walls
Main bailey
Main bailey
Third Bailey
Trail up the mountain
Trail up the mountain
Ohte Koguchi Ishigaki - ART

Castle Profile
English Name	Kasumi Castle
Japanese Name	霞城
Alternate Names	Ohmuro-jo
Founder	Ohmuro
Year Founded	unknown
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Nagano Sta.; Bus to Kawanakajima Battlefield, 50 min walk.
Visitor Information	You can rent electric bicycles (or regular bicycles) at Matsushiro and easily visit Kasumi Castle or Kawanakajima from there. Avoid the middle of summer. The weeds will probably be too thick to see the stone walls well.
Time Required	60 mins
Location	Nagano, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates	36° 35' 41.42" N, 138° 13' 18.05" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2016
Admin Year Visited	2016
Admin Visits	December 2016

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ARTShogun

11 months ago

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(Added Ohte Koguchi Ishigaki to gallery with co-ords.)

Kasumijō is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) ruin in Ômuro village of Matsushiro Township, Nagano Municipality. It's well known amongst fans of castle ruins in Nagano. It is on the tip of a mountain frond, so the elvation is that of a hill, easy to climb, and the site is chock-full of ishigaki (stone-piled ramparts). Seeing so much ishigaki from this time period - the Sengoku - is quite rare, so it's a highly recommended site for castle fans who have graduated (descended?) onto visitng sites without extant buildings.

Of particular note is the main gate ruins just above the western foot of the hill. These impressive ramparts are what made me come back to this site, as I wanted to make sure I hadn't simply dreamt them the first time! Haha. Since this was my second visit I just made a brief tour to enjoy the autumn foliage at the ruins, ascending to the main bailey area, which also has lots of ishigaki to oggle.

'Kasumijō' means 'Mist Castle'. Many castles have this as a nickname, usually due to mists appearing during important battles or sieges which aided the defenders, but this is the only one I know officially called such.

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ARTShogun

11 months ago

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The Ohte complex at this site is really fantastic. I recently re-visited. Will add a pic or two later...

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ARTShogun

46 months ago

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Kasumijō / Hanishina-Kajō / Ômurajō (Matsushiro) 　霞城・埴科霞城・大室城［松代］

The ruins of Kasumi Castle are some of the most impressive I've seen at a Sengoku Period Yamajiro (mountaintop castle). The ishigaki (stone-piled ramparts) remains are extensive and located all over the castle mount, starting almost immediately from the south trail. The ramparts here are more impressive than around the main bailey. To the northeast-ish side of the main bailey there are lower walls which zig-zag up the mountainside. A minor bailey here runs to the southeast but much of this side of the mountain seems to have succumbed to landslides, taking thousands of stone blocks with it. The terrain here is difficult and near impassible due to all of the loose blocks. Some segments of ishigaki seem only held in place by the tangled growth of creeping vines and tree roots. The lower reaches of the castle to the south are less maintained, and I'd like to see some trees felled here before their roots unlodge more walls. The top of the castle is better maintained and there are some information boards.

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