Maruyama Fort (Kai)

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KaiMaruyamaRui (2).JPG

History

Maruyama-rui is said to have been the residence of Sanada Nobutada (though he was not known by that name at the time), a vassal of the Takeda Clan. Although the castellan is not known for sure (the surviving name 'Okidono' is associated with Sanada Nobutada), Maruyama-rui functioned as a satellite fortification of Shinpujō, sitting on an independent hill to the east. A large moat was dug between this fort and Shinpujō.

For more information see Shinpu Castle.


Visit Notes

Maruyama-rui ('rui', referring to piled earthen ramparts, refers to a small fort) is an expert tier site for castle explorers. I ascended to the top of the hill from the north. I didn't find any ruins here and the slope was gentle, although the summit was flattened into an oval shape. The ruins are said to exist to the south. I tried to go that way but there was no path and there were lots of trees. In the end I came across a terrace. This looked like a forestry road (and later on I saw it bending so certainly it was). But on either side were some ditches. These ditches ran laterally across the hillside and I came across many bands, the lower ones being quite deep. I lost count but there were six or seven ditches (karabori?) along the whole hillside. Because of all of the bushes and bamboo I couldn't explore their whole length. I'd planned to continue poking around the site in the south where other castle bloggers said they found dorui (earthen ramparts), but the only way I could find which was possibly accessible, everywhere being tall grasses and tangles of vines, had an elderly couple tending to their orchard and I felt uncertain about explaining my intentions to them, so I just stopped there; the whole site is overgrown and a full exploration would be very tough-going. Before I left I noticed a lot of work being done in the small valley which leads to the large moat at the foot of the Shinpujō castle-mount, so I hope none of the ruins have been disturbed there...




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Castle Profile
English Name Maruyama Fort (Kai)
Japanese Name 甲斐丸山塁
Founder Takeda Katsuyori; Sanada Nobutada
Year Founded 1581
Castle Type Hilltop
Castle Condition Ruins only
Historical Period Pre Edo Period
Artifacts Dorui, Karabori
Features trenches
Visitor Information
Access Shinpu Station on the Chūō Main Line; 5 minute walk to hill
Visitor Information 24/7 free; mountain
Time Required 30 minutes
Location Nirasaki, Yamanashi Prefecture
Coordinates 35° 44' 17.27" N, 138° 25' 42.71" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle 2022
Contributor ART
Admin Year Visited Viewer Contributed
Friends of JCastle
Kojōshi
Jōkakuzukan


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