Yokoyairi Fort

History

Yokoyairi-toride was perhaps built by the Akazawa Clan; their yakata was located in what is now the resort town of Asama-onsen. The Akazawa were vassals of the Ogasawara Clan. The fort was at one point held by the Inukai Clan, based at Inukaijō and Inukai-yakata. The Asama Clan held the fort between 1532 and 1550. Yokoyairi-toride fell to the Takeda Clan in 1550 and was destroyed.

Yokoyairi-toride consisted of a shukuruwa (main bailey) with two horikiri (trenches) protecting the plain-side approach and at least three protecting the mountain-side rear.

Visit Notes

Sources alternately refer to this site as a "castle" ruin and merely as a toride (small fort) ruin. I am going with toride because it says that at the site itself. There is not much to see here. If I had known how little, I probably wouldn't've come up, but I'm glad I did for the views of Asama-onsen and the Japanese Alps. There is a marker indicating the site around 800m up. This was likely the main enclosure but that's about it for ruins that I could identify. I was also under the impression, looking at satellite imagery, that the mountain was fairly open, but tree growth has since rebounded after a forest fire scourged the mountain years ago.

During the hike up I came across a giant hornet. I just kept my head down and kept on walking. Luckily the beast was obviously engaged with some other nefarious errand and did not bother to harass me.

Gallery

Castle Profile
English Name	Yokoyairi Fort
Japanese Name	横谷入砦
Alternate Names	Yokoyairijou
Founder	Akazawa Clan
Year Founded	Chuusei
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features
Visitor Information
Access	Matsumoto Station; taxi or bicycle
Visitor Information	24/7 free
Time Required	60 mins
Location	Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates	36° 15' 48.96" N, 137° 59' 55.68" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2020
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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