Komazawa Castle (Minochi)
History
Komazawajō was the fortified residence of the Komazawa Clan dating to as far back as 1339, at which time clan patriarch Komazawa Osakabe served Ashikaga Takauji and was enfeoffed with territory here. In the Sengoku Period the Komazawa Clan were vassals of the Murakami Clan, and it is said that Komazawa Shichirōbei fought for Murakami Yoshikiyo at the Battle of Uedahara in 1553.
In the late 1550s the area fell under the control of Takeda Shingen to whom Komazawa Shichirōbei submitted, surrendering Komazawajō. Shichirōbei retired and his son Chikarasuke served the Takeda.
After Takeda Shingen's death the Komazawa fell under the suzrainty of the Uesugi Clan then under Uesugi Kagekatsu. In 1598 the Komazawa followed the Uesugi Kagekatsu after his transferral to Aizu, after which Komazawajō would've been abandoned. Komazawajō's exact location was unknown for a long time but archaelogical excavations were conducted here in 1994, identifying what is thought to be the site of the castle. Evidence of moats and palings were uncovered.
Visit Notes
I came here at the start of my impromptu walking tour of former castle sites in suburban Nagano. My plan had been to visit more yamajiro (mountaintop castles) along either the Iiyama or Shinonoi lines, but awkward schedules would've had me waiting around for hours. I decided I'd hit the Shinonoi line sites another time and just visit some minor sites in Nagano instead. It was a matter of quantity over quality though unfortunately as although I went to six locations I found very little to show for it. Likewise nothing remains of Komazawajō and the site is now that of a shrine, Kamikomazawa-Suwa-jinja, and a complex of maisonettes.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Komazawa Castle (Minochi) |
| Japanese Name | 水内駒沢城 |
| Founder | Komazawa Clan |
| Year Founded | 1339 |
| Castle Type | Fortified Manor |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Sansai Station on the Kita-Shinano Line; 5 minute walk |
| Visitor Information | Free; 24/7; Shrine |
| Time Required | 10 minutes |
| Location | Nagano, Nagano Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 36° 40' 51.20" N, 138° 14' 42.86" E |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2020 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
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