Nirayama Daikansho

History

Nirayama-daikansho was built in the Edo Period as the administrative offices of a territory under the Shogunate's direct control, represented by the Egawa Clan patriarchs who served as Hatamoto (Bannermen). The Egawa patriarchs further took the inherited given name of Torazaemon, so that the head of the family was always called Egawa Torazaemon (this is similar to "Hattori Hanzō"). Only between 1723 and 1759 was the Nirayama-daikansho not headed by an Egawa Torazaemon. The last Egawa Torazaemon was also known as Egawa Hidetatsu.

Nirayama-daikansho was the administrative centre of an important domain - though a tenryō. Centred in Izu, the daikansho had jurisdiction over territory in Musashi, Suruga and Sagami provinces also. In the Bakumatsu Period, the territory expanded to encompass parts of Kai Province also. The feif's holdings were valued ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 koku, which is equivalent to some daimyō. Effectively Nirayama-daikansho was responsible for holdings in Izu and Suruga; there was a branch office maintained in Edo which was responsible for Musashi and Sagami holdings. Core staff alternated between the Edo office in the summer and the Nirayama office in the winter.

In 1596 Egawa Hidenaga was appointed governor of Izu. His holdings were valued at less than 5,000 koku, but the territory of his descendants would expand dramatically from the middle Edo Period. The daikansho was moved to its present location in the Edo Period. It had various jin'ya serving under it throughout its holdings. In 1723 Egawa Hidekatsu, whilst working on infrastructural projects, was dismissed for illegal logging. In 1759 Egawa Hideyoshi resumed as governor following the merger of Mishima-daikansho with Nirayama-daikansho. Typical samurai bureaucratic stuff. Things got more interesting in the Bakumatsu Period under Egawa Hidetatsu as the territory expanded and the new Torazaemon proved able at modernisation, proposing that the Shogunate construct daiba (battery emplacements for cannon) and baking bread.

Visit Notes

This is one of the best preserved daikansho sites I've seen, and is an architectural treasure trove. Daikansho were administrative bases, usually lightly fortified, used by hatamoto, retainers and representatives of the Shogunate administering their direct holdings.

Gallery

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  Genkan / Omoya
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Castle Profile
English Name	Nirayama Daikansho
Japanese Name	韮山代官所
Alternate Names	韮山役所・江川代官所・江川邸
Founder	Egawa Clan
Year Founded	Edo Period
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	has Important Cultural Properties, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Artifacts	Omoya, Storehouses, Tea Houses, Gatehouses, &c.
Features	palace
Visitor Information
Access	Nirayama Station on the Izuhakone Line; 30 minute walk
Visitor Information	9:00-16:30; 9:00-15:30 on wenesdays and closed every third wednesday of the month; closed Dec. 31st to Jan. 3rd; 500 yen entry fee; 700 yen along with Nirayama Reverbatory Furnaces
Time Required	50 minutes
Location	Izunokuni, Shizuoka Prefecture
Coordinates	35° 3' 18.36" N, 138° 57' 34.56" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2021
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed, 2012
Admin Visits	Nov. 10, 2012
Friends of JCastle
Jokaku Horoki

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