Uenodan Castle (Kiso)
History
Uenodan Castle was built by Kiso Yoshiari, the 17th patriarch of the Kiso Clan, in 1509. The Kiso had before that been headquartered at nearby Kiso Komaruyama Castle, built by Kiso Oyatoyo. In 1555 Takeda Shingen invaded Kiso and Uenodanjō was defended and held by Kiso Yoshiyasu, whilst Kiso Yoshimasa, his son, fortified and holed up in Komaruyamajō. However, the Kiso would eventually surrender to and join Takeda Shingen. Kiso Yoshiyasu was thereafter wedded to Takeda's daughter, Mari-hime.
In 1584, Ogasawara Sadayoshi, lord of Fukashijō (later known as Matsumotojō), was ordered by Tokugawa Ieyasu to invade Kiso, and his forces penetrated the valley and reached Uenodanjō. The castle, Kiso Yoshimasa's residence, was torched. By the time of the Edo Period the Yamamura Clan were in charge of adminstering the newly established Fukushima-juku, an official inn town, and resided at the Kiso-daikansho across the valley at the foot of Kiso-Fukushimajō. The town expanded and the former site of Uenodanjō contained the homes of twenty senior retainers of the Yamamura. Now the site is a baseball field and forested park.
Visit Notes
I came to the site of Uenodanjō after that of Kiso-Komaruyamajō. They are on opposite sides of a small river valley which runs into the main Kiso Valley. The town of Kiso is hilly and development has spread onto the surrounding elevation. Uenodanjō is now the site of sports field used by the town's high school.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Uenodan Castle |
| Japanese Name | 上之段城 |
| Founder | Kiso Yoshiari |
| Year Founded | 1509 |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Kuruwa, Horikiri?, Dorui? |
| Features | trenches |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Kiso-Fukushima Station on the Chūō Line; 10 minute walk |
| Visitor Information | Free; 24/7; Park |
| Time Required | 20 minutes |
| Location | Kiso, Nagano Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35° 50' 54.96" N, 137° 42' 5.54" E |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2020 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
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