Ubaguchi Fort

History

Ubaguchi-toride was a small fort built by Tokugawa forces in 1582 to facilitate their entry into Kai from Suruga. This is recorded in the diary of Matsudaira Ietada, an aid to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Given the importance of the Ubaguchi Pass, it is possible albeit unknown that the Takeda also maintained a fort here.

Visit Notes

Ubaguchi-toride is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) site at the edge of the Kai Basin. The old prefectural road from before the construction of Ubaguchi Tunnel weaves around the base of the fort-mount, but it is not accessible between December and April. I had to walk a little up the track from the point at which a barrier gate stands. I scrambled up the hillside from the rear of the fort so as to be sure not to miss any trench ruins. Ubaguchi-toride is a single bailey fort complex with some terracing and tatebori (climbing trenches). Beneath the fort is the village of Ubaguchi-juku, a shukuba (post town) which served as the main stop before leaving Kai for Suruga for centuries until the construction of the modern tunnel.

Gallery

Climbing Trench / Tatebori
terracing
Ubaguchi-juku
main bailey

Castle Profile
English Name	Ubaguchi Fort
Japanese Name	右左口砦
Alternate Names	Ubakuchi-toride
Founder	Matsudaira Ietada
Year Founded	1582
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Nearest Station is Kai-Ueno on the Minobu Line; take the old road to Lake Shōji (closed in winter)
Visitor Information	24/7 free; mountain
Time Required	30 minutes
Location	Kōfu, Yamanashi Prefecture
Coordinates	35° 33' 59.15" N, 138° 35' 42.65" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2023
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed
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