Furujou Yakata

History

Before large towns developed around huge castles in the Edo period, smaller settlements developed around some larger forts and manor halls of the Sengoku period. Such settlements could be called jōkamura (castle villages) rather than jōkamachi (castle towns). However, one of the first jōkamachi, or large scale castle towns, was Ômachi in Shinano (Ichijōdanijō in Echizen would be another). Ômachi, originally called Nishinasō (Nishina Clan Estates), or Nishina-onkuriya, developed around a cluster of fortified residences of the powerful Nishina Clan. Furujō-yakata was one among these many manor halls, located across the Nōgu River from the town centre on a plateau.

Visit Notes

Several of the yakata in the town centre of Ômachi have been developed over, leaving little ruins, but Furujō-yakata has segments of dorui (earthen ramparts) standing to this day. In the northeast is a corner segment of dorui and a raised platform of earth, now the site of ancestral memorial markers / graves, which may have been used as the base for a defensive structure. There is another small segment of dorui set to the east, projecting out the little, and this may have formed a gate complex. It is believed that a moat wrapped around the hall in the north, east and south - to the west is a cliff. The site today is mostly fields.

'Furujō' simply means 'Old Castle'. This site may also be called Matsuzakifurujō-yakata.

Gallery

Dorui remnants around manor hall site

Castle Profile
English Name	Furujou Yakata
Japanese Name	古城館
Alternate Names	Matsuzakifurujō-yakata
Founder	Nishina Clan
Year Founded	Medieval Era
Castle Type	Fortified Manor
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Dorui
Features
Visitor Information
Access	Shinano-Ômachi Station on the Ôito Line; 14 minute walk
Visitor Information	24/7; Free; Fields
Time Required	20 minutes
Location	Ômachi, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates	36° 29' 46.90" N, 137° 51' 55.33" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2021
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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