Nagamine Fort
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History
Nagamine-toride was built by the Katō Clan as a satellite fortification of their main residential castle, Uenoharajō (referred to as ‘Inner Castle’), in the mid’ 16th century. Nagamine-toride was a hilltop fort which watched over a major trade route between Kai and Musashi provinces. The Katō Clan became vassals of Takeda Shingen, protecting the border of Kai. Skirmishes historically took place in this area between Takeda forces and those of the Hōjō, particularly between Takeda Nobutora and Hōjō Ujitsuna. The Katō Clan are thought to have put their vassals the Ôkunugi Clan in charge of defending Nagamine-toride.
The fort was destroyed with the construction of the Chūō Expressway. Some ruins remained on the south side between the road and the golf course, but road-widening projects eventually consumed those too. Now a small memorial park stands in place of the fort. Archaeological excavations were carried out here, and a bronze cannonball was unearthed from one of the moats. Only some ruins to the north of the motorway remain now.
Visit Notes
Nagamine-toride is a medieval fort site; the ruins were demolished for the construction and gradual expansion of a national highway. The Chūō Expressway has been the grim reaper for many castle sites. Apparently some earthworks do still remain intact here, but it was beyond my power that day to uncover them. Many castling blogs cover this minor site, perhaps because there is a small memorial park with information boards and marker stelae for the old fort site, but the one which I found most interesting was the one from Jōkakuzukan, as he had visited the site over two decades ago before its destruction (I think this blogger lives or lived in Yamanashi). He also has done the most work in ascertaining the site’s condition today. After checking out the site to the south of the motorway where the marker stands, I then tried to check out the north where ruins are reported to still remain, but the whole area was so overgrown and fenced off that I could see nothing and find no way in. I had other sites to visit that day, so I moved on. Salutes for Jōkakuzukan.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Nagamine Fort |
| Japanese Name | 長峯砦 |
| Alternate Names | 長峰砦 |
| Founder | Katō Clan |
| Year Founded | Mid' 16th Century |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | trenches |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | The nearest station is Uenohara Station on the Chūō Main Line |
| Visitor Information | 24/7 free; park |
| Time Required | 20 minutes |
| Location | Uenohara, Yamanashi Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35° 37' 57.04" N, 139° 4' 34.32" E |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2023 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkakuzukan | |
| Kojōshi | |
| Jōkaku Hōrōki | |
| Shiro Meguri | |
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