Iwabuchi Castle (Aida)

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AidaIwabuchijou (1).JPG

History

Iwabuchijō was a large fortified residence with multiple sections or baileys; the castellan was Iwabuchi Bungonokami, a general of Aida Hiromasa.

For more information see: Aida Yakata


Visit Notes

Segments of a network of dry moats are all that remain of Iwabuchijō, and most of these are either choked with bamboo or on private property. However, a notable section is retained in the Jizō hamlet which would've formed the castle's outermoat. This moat section, which is by the Jizō shrine, connects with one of two creeks on either side of the castle which were augmented as moats (originally it connected with both). Two other moats were dug from the cliffside into the plain to divide the castle area into at least three baileys. The lord's residence was in the first and / or second bailey and other samurai had homes in the castle's outer baileys. This snug fort's remains are well hidden, and much has been lost. Nonetheless it is possible to get a sense of the structure and scale of the castle mulling about this rural area with its old homes. It seems some new homes have been built in what was the central part of the castle between the cliff edge and the road, and a faded marker post for the castle which castle explorers describe in their blogs is no longer there I can confirm.

The ruins of Toride-toride in Toride (I'm still amused that each of those 'toride' take different kanji) consist of earthworks such as baileys, dry moats and earthen ramparts, but it is mostly on private property. The main section can be seen from the road. The most notable feature is a 50m long karabori (dry moat). Since Toride-toride is a clifftop fort this karabori then does down the steep hillside to form a tatebori (climbing moat). A marker for the castle is positioned atop of the dorui (earthen ramparts) which sit above this moat. The marker used to have the fort's name on presumably but it has since faded and is now illegible. It's still nice to see the piece of wood, as its brother marker at nearby Iwabuchijō is now gone; both markers were erected under Shiga Village Municipality which was annexed into the expanded Matsumoto Municipality in 2005.




Gallery
  • Moat / Karabori


Castle Profile
English Name Iwabuchi Castle (Aida)
Japanese Name 会田岩渕城
Founder Iwabuchi Bungonokami
Year Founded Medieval Era
Castle Type Hilltop
Castle Condition Ruins only
Historical Period Pre Edo Period
Artifacts Karabori
Features trenches
Visitor Information
Access Nearest station is Akashina Station on the Shinonoi Line; 15 minute drive
Visitor Information 24/7 free; fields
Time Required 30 minutes
Location Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates 36° 20' 49.09" N, 138° 0' 15.59" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle 2022
Contributor ART
Admin Year Visited Viewer Contributed
Friends of JCastle
Ranmaru
Yogo


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