Yamagata Castle (Hitachi)
History
Yamagata Castle is recorded from 1407 where it appears in records as being the castle of Satake Yoshinori. One idea about the castle’s origin is that Satake Clan vassal Yamairi Yoshiaki established Yamagata Castle after he turned over control of Tanadani Castle to his brother, Yoshibuji. During the Sengoku Period the Higashi clan ruled the castle as the vassals of Daimyō Satake Yoshinobu. They controlled an area of 60,000 koku and were the chief vassals of the Satake clan. Yamagata Castle commands a strategic position over surrounding plains and waterways. With the hegemony of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Satake moved to Mito and the Higashi went with them, taking over Takekuma Castle and abandoning Yamagata Castle.
Visit Notes
A mogi-tenshu (mock donjon) serves ostensibly as an observation platform at the castle site today. Whilst not historically accurate, as such a structure never existed at the site, it is built from wood and contains exhibitions, such as weapons, letters and samurai armour. Traces of earthen embankments and moats also remain at the site. Another mountaintop ruin castle, Takadate Castle, is located directly opposite.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Yamagata Castle (Hitachi) |
| Japanese Name | 常陸山方城 |
| Founder | Yamairi Yoshiaki |
| Year Founded | Before 1407 |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Reconstructed main keep |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Main Keep Structure | 2 tiers |
| Year Reconstructed | 1987 |
| Artifacts | Faux-Reconstructed Main Keep, dry moats |
| Features | trenches |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Yamagata-Juju Sta. (Saigon Line), 20 minute walk |
| Visitor Information | 9:00 - 4:00 |
| Time Required | 30 minutes |
| Location | Hitachi-Ōmiya, Ibaraki Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 36° 38' 2.44" N, 140° 23' 37.82" E |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2017 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
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