History
Details for Tayajō are unknown, unfortunately, though it seems unlikely that the castle builders were anyone other than the Nishimaki Clan, whose main mountain fortress was at Azumi Nishimaki Castle to the east, and main fortified residence was Otaya Yakata. An older residence of the Nishimaki Clan, Nakamura Yakata, existed below Tayajō in what is now the village of Taya / Ueno, but it seems Tayajō was built in a later time period.
Visit Notes
Exploring the ruins of Tayajō involved a difficult climb, starting from the Hachiman shrine in Taya Village, and working my way up the mountain via thin, zigzagging paths - game trails, I think - where I could find them, and crawling when I couldn't. Eventually I came to a ridge which I was able to follow to the top of the mountain, which was the center of the castle. Here I passed over some horikiri (trenches) and through some minor baileys before arriving at the shukuruwa (main bailey). The shukuruwa has a prominent koshiguruwa (sub-bailey) beneath it on one side, and a narrower one on the other, as well as a large karabori (dry moat) to the rear, separating it from the rest of the mountain. I also found what I took for ido (well) ruins.
Castle Profile | |
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English Name | Azumi Taya Castle |
Japanese Name | 安曇田屋城 |
Founder | Nishimaki Clan |
Year Founded | Sengoku Period |
Castle Type | Mountaintop |
Castle Condition | Ruins only |
Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
Artifacts | Kuruwa, Horikiri, Tatebori, Koshikuruwa, Ido, Karabori |
Features | trenches |
Visitor Information | |
Access | Hata Station on the Kamikouchi Line; 48 minute walk |
Visitor Information | 24/7 free; mountain |
Time Required | 50 minutes |
Location | Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture |
Coordinates | 36° 12' 47.52" N, 137° 49' 47.42" E |
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Admin | |
Added to Jcastle | 2020 |
Contributor | ART |
Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
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