Tsukui Castle

History

The original fortification was built by the Tsukui clan during the Kamakura Period, but the castle remnants we see today all date from the Sengoku Period. In the latter half the the 1500's, it was an important castle in the Hojo castle network. Tsukui Castle was near the border of the Takeda lands and looked out over the Sagami River. It also served as a smoke signal tower to send signals to other points in the Hojo defensive network. Defense of Tsukui Castle was managed by the Naito clan, one of the chief retainers of the Hojo. The castle was defeated by Honda Tadakatsu and Hiraiwa Chikayoshi in Hideyoshi's campaign against the Hojo in 1590. After the fall of the Hojo, Tsukui Castle was decommissioned. In the Edo Period a jin'ya, or government administrative office, was established at the foot of the mountain just next to the current Park Center.

Visit Notes

You have to look hard to find castle remnants here but the park is well signposted which helps your enjoyment of the site. Stop by the park center before visiting the castle ruins to find maps, brochures, a model and other information about the castle. There are some trails to the east of the Takauchiba marked as "steep", proceed with caution. They are indeed very steep and there are no additional castle remnants to see. Much of the steep part is going up/down holding a chain or rope.
お城の痕跡を見るのによく観察しなければなりませんが、説明板も多いのでよく楽しめる城跡です。登城する前にパークセンターによると地図とジオラマなどがありますので参考にできます。鷹射場から東に行く「急坂」と書いてある登山道もあります。これは本当に急なので気をつけてください。くさりやロープを持ちながら上り下りする箇所も多いです。

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Gallery

Location of the lord's palace
Tatebori, vertical moat
vertical moat, tatebori
small bailey
Karoyashiki bailey
Stonework of the Karoyashiki bailey.
Karoyashiki stoneworok
Small bailey
Small bailey outside the honmaru
honmaru entrance
Honmaru map
small bailey outside the Honmaru
Entrance to the honmaru
Kome Kuruwa
Honjo Kuruwa
Earthen embankment of the Honjo Bailey
View from the top of the mountain
horikiri
Taiko Bailey
Path to the Iizuna Bailey
Entrance to the Iizuna Bailey
Along the side of the Iizuna Bailey
Takara-ga-ike pond
horikiri
The path to the Takauchiba.
Takuchiba Bailey
Steep hiking trail.
small bailey
Horse stabling area
Map of the full mountain
Map of the top of the mountain
Diorama in the park center.
Diorama in the park center

Castle Profile
English Name	Tsukui Castle
Japanese Name	津久井城
Founder	Tsukui
Year Founded	15th C.
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Top 100 Mountaintop Castles
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Hashimoto Sta. (JR or Keio Line); bus to Lake Tsukui Visitor Center, 20 min walk
Visitor Information	The Park Center is open 8:30-17:15 daily except for the New Year's holidays
Time Required	120 mins
Website	http://www.kanagawa-park.or.jp/tsukuikoshiroyama/index.html
Location	Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture
Coordinates	35° 34' 58.80" N, 139° 16' 43.68" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2013
Admin Year Visited	2013
Admin Visits	Nov. 30, 2013

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ARTShogun

20 months ago

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Tsukuijō is a castle site in two or three parts. There are the terraces at the foot of the castle mount which constituted the castle’s kyokan (residential area). These are located over a medieval-style bridge across a deep creek. On the other side of the creek where there are park facilities and a parking area there is also some terracing of the hillside; a latter day daikansho (feudal administrative centre) was located here after the abandonment of the medieval castle.

The main area of Tsukuijō is the yamajiro (mountaintop castle) portion, itself with eastern and western areas sprawling over the mountain. Features include earthworks such as kuruwa (baileys), dorui (earthen ramparts), horikiri (trenches) and tatebori (climbing moats). The tatebori are numerous and a half dozen of them or so are very long, streaking down the entire mountainside. Tatebori tend to be difficult earthworks to appreciate, but for a dedicated castle explorer they might well be the highlight at Tsukuijō.

The western portion of the castle is the Iidzuna Bailey complex. I went there first. A small main bailey, now a shrine, is surrounded by an obikuruwa (belt bailey), and beneath the main bailey complex is a well. Tsukuijō’s horikiri are located in this area of the castle, and, having been cut into stone, are quite impressive. The eastern area is where the castle’s main bailey complex is. Most of the castle’s tatebori are also located in this area. The main bailey has a large dorui segment, and it is cradled by several gate ruins. According to maps, detached baileys also sprawl to the northwest in the valley beneath the castle mount, but I had not the time to inspect them. Tsukuijō is a well maintained yamajiro site.

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