Kasugayama Castle

Japanese: 春日山城 - かすがやまじょう

A medieval mountain castle ( yamajiro ) located in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture. It was the residence of four generations of the Echigo Nagao clan (Uesugi clan) during the Sengoku period, including Uesugi Kenshin. It is a nationally designated historic site, and one of the "100 Great Castles of Japan" selected by the Japan Castle Foundation. It is a linked castle built on the summit of Mt. Kasuga (Hachigamine), 189 meters above sea level in central Joetsu City, and was said to be an impregnable castle built on a natural stronghold. It is also counted as one of the five great mountain castles of the Middle Ages. The name Kasugayama comes from the fact that at the foot of the mountain was Kasuga Shrine, which was enshrined from Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara. The construction date of this castle is unclear, but it is said to have been built by the Uesugi clan, the guardian of Echigo Province, during the Nanboku-cho period as a secondary castle for the castle in Echigo Fuchu. In 1507 (Eisho 4), Nagao Tamekage, the deputy governor, supported Uesugi Sadazane and expelled the governor Uesugi Fusayoshi. When Sadazane entered Fuchu as the new governor, Nagao Tamekage became the lord of Kasugayama Castle. After that, Nagao Harukage took over, and in 1548 (Tenbun 17), Nagao Kagetora (later Uesugi Kenshin) became the lord of the castle. Tamekage began full-scale construction of the castle, and Kagetora (Kenshin) completed it into the large-scale castle that remains today. In 1579 (Tensho 7), Uesugi Kagekatsu, who had defeated the Otate Rebellion, became the lord of the castle, and in 1598 (Keicho 3), Kagekatsu was transferred to Aizu, and Hori Hideharu entered the castle. In the Edo period, he became the first lord of the Echigo Fukushima Domain. In 1607 (Keicho 12), Hideharu's son and son, Tadatoshi Hori, built Fukushima Castle (Joetsu City) in Naoetsu and moved his residence and clan headquarters there, leading to the abandonment of Kasugayama Castle. Currently, the remains of the castle ruins include the kuruwa ( circular enclosure ), earthworks, dry moats, a large well, and the existing gates. The main gate of Rinsenji Temple at the foot of the mountain is said to be a relocated gate from Kasugayama Castle. In 1996 (Heisei 8), the tower gate area at the northeast end of the castle ruins was developed and opened to the public as Kasugayama Castle Historical Site Square. The square contains the earthworks, moat, road, and guardhouse, all of which have been restored based on the results of excavation surveys. There is also the Kasugayama Castle Ruins Story House, which shows a video introducing Kasugayama Castle, as well as exhibits such as a folding screen depicting the Battle of Kawanakajima and other artifacts unearthed during excavation surveys. It is about a 30-minute walk from Kasugayama Station on the JR Shinetsu Main Line. Or take a 14-minute bus from JR Naoetsu Station, get off at the Rinsenji entrance bus stop, and then walk for about 20 minutes. ◇It is also called Hachigamine Castle.

Source: Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japanese Castles Information

Japanese:

新潟県上越市にあった中世の山城(やまじろ)。上杉謙信を含む戦国時代の越後長尾氏（上杉氏）4代の居城。国指定史跡。日本城郭協会選定による「日本100名城」の一つ。上越市中部にある標高189mの春日山（蜂ヶ峰）の山頂に築かれた連郭式の城郭で、天然の要害に建つ難攻不落の城といわれていた。中世五大山城の一つにも数えられている。春日山の名前は、山麓に奈良の春日大社から勧請された春日神社があったことによる。この城の築城年代は明らかではないが、南北朝時代に越後国守護の上杉氏が越後府中の城館の詰め城として築城したとされる。1507年（永正4）、守護代の長尾為景が上杉定実を擁立して守護上杉房能を追放し、定実が新守護として府中に入ると、長尾為景が春日山城主となった。その後、長尾晴景を経て、1548年（天文17）に長尾景虎（のちの上杉謙信）が城主となった。為景は本格的な築城に着手し、景虎（謙信）が現在残る大規模な城郭として完成させた。1579年（天正7）には御館の乱を制した上杉景勝が城主となり、1598年（慶長3）には景勝が会津へ転封となったことから堀秀治が入城。江戸時代に入り、越後福嶋藩の初代藩主となった。1607年（慶長12）、秀治の後継となった子の堀忠俊が直江津に福島城（上越市）を築城、居城・藩庁を同城に移したことに伴い、春日山城は廃城となった。現在、城跡には曲輪(くるわ)、土塁、空堀、大井戸、現存門などの遺構が残っている。また、山麓の林泉寺の惣門は、春日山城の搦手門を移築したものであるといわれている。1996年（平成8）には、同城跡北東端の楼門地区が整備され、春日山城史跡広場として公開された。この広場には発掘調査の成果に基づいて復元された土塁、監物堀、道、番所などがある。また春日山城跡ものがたり館があり、春日山城を紹介するビデオ上映のほか、川中島合戦図屏風や発掘調査の出土品などが展示されている。JR信越本線春日山駅から徒歩約30分。またはJR直江津駅からバス14分で林泉寺入口下車、徒歩約20分。◇蜂ヶ峰城とも呼ばれる。

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