Hanazono Castle

History

The Fujita were leaders in the Chichibu area of Saitama focused around Yorii under the Uesugi governors of Kanto. The castle is directly across the river from Hachigata Castle so it served as an important location to watch Hachigata Castle as well as to guard the entrance to the valley that leads deeper into Chichibu. After the fall of the Uesugi, the Fujita surrendered to the Hojo and fostered Hojo Ujiyasu's fourth son. At the battle for Hachigata Castle in 1590, Hanazono Castle functioned as a satellite fortification to Hachigata Castle.

Visit Notes

This was an amazing castle ruin to visit. There was a lot more stonework here than I had imagined. The ruins are more vast and easily identifiable than I had thought too. Look at the map on this site to see how complex the castle is/was. I spent close to 3 hours exploring and taking hundreds of photos. Be aware that there are no signs nor trails so you need to take advantage of your mountain castle instincts and adventurous attitude to find it all. There are good maps and information in the 廃城をゆく book to help you out. Some people may say it's difficult to navigate and that you need a guide, but I didn't think so. Hanazono Mitake Castle, a satellite fortification of Hanazono Castle is also a short walk away at the Shorinji Temple.
これはとても素晴らしい城跡です。何年も見逃していたのが信じられません。思った以上に石積みや遺構がよく残っています。三時間近く隅々まで探検してとても楽しかったです。ただし、ここは説明板も地図も歩道もないので、気をつけながら山城の勘と冒険心を生かして楽しんできてください。廃城をゆくに載っている縄張り図も役立ちます。

Loading map...

Gallery

Huge trench cut through bedrock around the main bailey
Start from the Suwa Temple.
The trail goes from the tree with the ribbon, behind the shrine and off to the left
When you reach this tatebori you've found the right place
Watch for the trail on the right that leads to this stonework
Yokobori Trench
Stonework
Stonework
Stone (right) and yokobori trench
Stonework
Stonework
Stonework
Parallel tatebori trenches start split from here
Stonework of one of the many small side baileys
Stonework
Stonework
Stonework
Stonework overlooking other side baileys
Stonework
Large trench near the top
Stonework
Note how this trench is cut right into bedrock
Tatebori leading to the main bailey
Tatebori trench and entrance to a smaller bailey
Yokobori trench
Stonework separating two baileys. Very nice.
Small side bailey
Looking from a side bailey across the trenches to the main bailey
Huge trench cut through bedrock around the main bailey
Main Bailey
Main Bailey
Stonework around the main bailey
Stonework around the main bailey
Horikiri trench between the main bailey and second bailey
Horikiri trench between the main bailey and second bailey
Stonework of the second bailey
Embankment and stonework
Tatebori trench
Fourth bailey
Tatebori trench
Tatebori trench
Yokobori trench
Mountain on the right is where Hanazono Castle is and the mountain on the left is the satellite castle Hanazono Mitake Castle

Castle Profile
English Name	Hanazono Castle
Japanese Name	花園城
Founder	Fujita Masayuki
Year Founded	Kamakura Period
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Local Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Yorii Sta. (Tobu Tojo Line), walk 20 mins
Visitor Information	mountain, open any time
Time Required	120mins
Website	https://www.town.yorii.saitama.jp/site/rekishikan/hanazonojyouato.html
Location	Yorii, Saitama Prefecture
Coordinates	36° 7' 21.07" N, 139° 10' 20.96" E
Loading map... {"type":"TERRAIN","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"mappingservice":"googlemaps","width":"auto","height":"200px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"Castlemarker.png","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":6,"layers":[],"controls":[""],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":false,"poi":true,"cluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":[],"searchmarkers":"","fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":36.122519444444,"lon":139.17248888889,"icon":"../images/1/1e/Castlemarker.png"}]}
Admin
Added to Jcastle	2018
Admin Year Visited	2018
Admin Visits	April 1, 2018

3.50

(2 votes)

Enable comment auto-refresher

ARTShogun

45 months ago

Score 1

A unique site with epic trenches of rock! Wish i had more time here. Would go again.

Permalink | Reply