Kurita Castle

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NaganoKuritajou (1).JPG

History

Kurita Castle was a medieval flatland earthworks castle built by the Kurita Clan as their residence. Around 1500 the Kurita Clan became vassals of the Murakami Clan, and after that vassals of the Takeda Clan. In 1581 Kurita Tsuruhisa was killed at the siege of Takatenjinjō.


Visit Notes

Since I had time to spare in downtown Nagano I went on a little castle walk, going from site to site. Kuritajō was the best and last, possessing the most substantial ruins, although only a portion of the original castle remains. Kuritajō's layout was square-like; in fact, almost a parallelogram. It had tall earthen ramparts and mizubori (water moats) around the main bailey. An outer enclosure also existed, surrounded by the moat system. Now only the northwestern corner segment of dorui (earth-piled ramparts) survives, but it is still very tall. There is now a shrine built atop, and the remaining ruins are part of the shrine's grounds. The shrine is called the Minochi-sōja Hiyoshi-jinja. The flat ground at the foot of the dorui which is now parkspace is the moat which has been filled in. The stone platform shown here is a modern one built for the shrine's kami house.




Gallery


Castle Profile
English Name Kurita Castle
Japanese Name 栗田城
Alternate Names 堀之内城
Founder Kurita Clan
Year Founded Before 1500
Castle Type Flatland
Castle Condition Ruins only
Historical Period Pre Edo Period
Artifacts Dorui, Mizubori-ato
Features trenches
Visitor Information
Access Nagano Station; 12 minute walk
Visitor Information 24/7 free; shrine
Time Required 25 minutes
Location Nagano, Nagano Prefecture
Coordinates 36° 38' 16.51" N, 138° 11' 39.48" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle 2020
Contributor ART
Admin Year Visited Viewer Contributed


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