Nagashino Castle

History

Suganuma Motonari built this castle at the confluence of the Ure River and Kansa River. These 2 rivers provided natural barriers for the castle. The Suganuma were retainers of the Takeda but the castle was taken over by forces loyal to Tokugawa. In 1575, when Okudaira Sadamasa was lord of the castle, it once again came under attack and was surrounded by Takeda Katsuyori's forces. It was saved by a combined force of allies to Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu. This Battle of Nagashino has became famous as the first modern Japanese battle. Oda's forces used a number of wooden stockades to blunt the Takeda cavalry charges while troops of gunners in alternating lines continuously fired volleys on them from behind the stockades. This was the first battle to show the utility of guns if properly employed and was a step away from traditional hand to hand combat.

Visit Notes

There are very few castle remains here, but the small museum is nice with many artifacts. While the Battle of Nagashino was an historically important battle, I do not think that alone should qualify this castle to be in the top 100 given the relatively few remains. There are many better castles that have been overlooked. There is also an historical walking trail around the town but from what I saw of the section I walked there were simply signs along the roadside or in residential areas indicating where samurai homes, gates, and castle sections were. You can easily stop here on your way back to Toyohashi from Takane Castle too.

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Gallery

dry moat of the honmaru
earthen embankment
honmaru bailey
honmaru moat
Yagyuu Bailey
Ninomaru bailey
map
wooden fence
wooden fence

Castle Profile
English Name	Nagashino Castle
Japanese Name	長篠城
Founder	Suganuma Motonari
Year Founded	1508
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Top 100 Castles, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Nagashinojo Sta. (Iida line); 8 min walk
Visitor Information
Time Required
Website	http://www.city.shinshiro.lg.jp/index.cfm/1,8420,118,664,html
Location	Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture
Coordinates	34° 55' 23.09" N, 137° 33' 34.74" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2009
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2009
Admin Visits	October 16, 2009

1.75

(4 votes)

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ARTShogun

10 months ago

Score 0

Nagashinojō is a medieval hirajiro (flatland castle) site in Nagashino Township, Shinshiro Municipality. Ruins feature earthworks such as dorui (earthen ramparts) and karabori (dry moats). The dorui and karabori protecting the main bailey are large and impressive. Nagashinojō is essentially wedge-shaped, built between a river and a deep creek. Moats and embankments were cut and piled between these natural barriers to create the castle. As the castle expanded, more fortifications were built on the otherside of the creek.

Ruins remain on both sides of the creek. I visited the main bailey in early afternoon, and used a bicycle loaned from the museum at the castle to visit other nearby fort and encampment sites associated with the battle of Nagashino. I visited the remaining parts of Nagashinojō after returning the bike in late afternoon. The outer fortifications of Nagashinojō were quite extensive, and the danjō-kuruwa is well-preserved. One can see ramparts and a moat system where there are now sunken rice paddies. The interior of the bailey is a private residence, but one can get a good look from without. There's actually ishigaki (stone-piled retaining walls) here, but, given that there is no ishigaki around the main bailey, my assumption was that this was piled at a later time; but, it looks quite old.

There used to be dorui on the side of the main bailey overlooking the river, but now the Iida Line (formerly the Hōraiji Line) runs through it. Looking from atop of the extant dorui, one can see a tall mound on the otherside of the railway which is also dorui.

At some point I'll add some pictures of the danjou-kuruwa and other bits and pieces.

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FurinkazanDaimyo

126 months ago

Score 0

Today was the Nagashino kassen nobori matsuri. I thougt it would be cancelled due to the bad weather of today, but it still took place. First i visited the Shitaragahara historical museum and the fence against the cavalry. You get of at Mikawatogo-station and from there it's abaout 1.3km. The museum has alot of teppou(=matchlock guns) on display and other artifacts. You may take photos of almost everything unless otherly stated. The entrance fee is 400 for this museum combined with the Nagashinojou-museum. The Nagashinojou-station is 3 stations away. When i arrived at the castle site there were some teppoutai firing their guns. I took some photos and filmed some sequences. I really didn't tought they should fire their guns with the awfull weather. The museum has nice artifacts on show and almost every text is translated in english. Of the castle site was really not alot to see, because some of the parts were used, and thus offlimits, for the gunners to put on their armors. I give 2 stars not for the Nagashinojou alone, but for the sites combined.

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