Kawajiri Castle

History

Kawajirijō was built in 1424 by Okudaira Sadatoshi. It was originally the Okudaira Clan’s headquarters until the construction of Kameyamajō to the south; thereafter Kawajirijō became a satellite fortification of that castle. The construction of the two castles took place only about eight months apart, so Kawajirijō alone must’ve proved insufficient for the clan’s needs.

Visit Notes

Kawajirijō is a hilltop fort ruin in Tsukude Village, Shinshiro Municipality. Features include dorui (earthen ramparts), kuruwa (baileys) and trenches. There is also a (speculatively) reconstructed kabukimon (a type of gateway without doors) and what looks to be babōsaku, a latticework palisade. The site has previously been maintained as part of a park, but it was a little neglected in parts when I visited.

Kawajirijō has an irregular concentric layout with a large main bailey surrounded below by terracing of the hillside to form a sub-bailey. A kabukimon and palings are found in the lower ring bailey. The main bailey is partially ensconced by dorui. It is quite spacious and, curiously, there is a hillock, perhaps representing the peak of the natural hill, now used as a religious space with several altars and a memorial stele for the war dead. My impression was that there used to be a temple in the bailey at some point. There is also what I took for a lower bailey, used as an orchid, with what look like dorui lining one side. A holler runs below, cutting off the hill from more elevation beyond; I only guess but perhaps there was a trench cutting here.

Gallery

Kabukimon

Castle Profile
English Name	Kawajiri Castle
Japanese Name	川尻城
Founder	Okudaira Sadatoshi
Year Founded	1424
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Karabori, Dorui, Kuruwa, Kabukimon, &c.
Features	gates, trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Route 301
Visitor Information	24/7; Free; Park
Time Required	40 minutes
Location	Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture
Coordinates	34° 58' 53.47" N, 137° 25' 44.83" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2023
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed
Friends of JCastle
Kojōdan
Jōkaku Hōrōki
Nippon Shiro Meguri
Shiseki Yawa
Umoreta Kojō
Yogo
Aichi Shiro

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