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Castle Moriyama Castle (Aichi)

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Moriyama Castle (守山城) Moriyama-jō) was a flat mountain castle (平山城 hirayamajō) located in Moriyama, Owari Province (尾張国), modern-day Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.

Moriyama Castle (守山城)

The date of construction and the builder are both unknown. In 1526, the renga master Sōchō (宗長) visited the castle on the occasion of a grand renga gathering to celebrate the appointment of Matsudaira Nobusada (松平信定, d. 1538). The poem he wrote about Moriyama, "Hana ni kyo, Kaze wo Seki Moriyama-Ji kana" (花にけふ風を関守山路哉), was published in Sōchō's memoirs. In 1535, Tokugawa Ieyasu's grandfather, Matsudaira Kiyoyasu (松平清康), led a large army into the Moriyama Castle area to attack Owari but was killed in battle by his retainer Abe Masatoyo (阿部正豊, d. 1535). Kiyoyasu quickly distinguished himself after taking over the reins at the age of thirteen and promptly achieved the unification of Mikawa Province (三河国). Still, his ambitions were crushed when he died in Moriyama at the early age of 25. However, the foundation he laid was taken over by his grandson Tokugawa Ieyasu, who became a foothold in the country. Moriyama Castle was abandoned after the Battle of Okehazama when Oda Nobunaga's uncle Nobutsugu and brother Nobutoki became the castle's castellans.

Topographically, the castle was situated on the western edge of a plateau on which the Yada River flowed to the south and was a valuable strategic location in the Nagoya area, where there were many flat areas.

Moriyama Castle (守山城)

Aerial photographs taken from Geographical Survey Institute maps. The location of the enclosures is estimated.

We walked from Shin Moriyama Station on the JR Chūō Line. After about 15 minutes to the south, you will see a plateau in front of you.

Moriyama Castle (守山城)

① Monument of the castle ruins (城址碑)

The castle ruins monument is located one step higher at the top of the hill.

Moriyama Castle (守山城)

② Hōshōji Temple (宝勝寺)

The area around Hōshōji Temple, south of the castle monument, was also part of the castle.

Moriyama Castle (守山城)

There is a moat cut between the castle monument and Hōshōji Temple, although it is difficult to see due to the bamboo thicket.

Moriyama Castle (守山城)

The Yada River (矢田川) flows south of the castle ruins.

Moriyama Castle (守山城)

Date of visit: 21 March 2014

Access:

  • Address: 4-22 Ichiba, Moriyama Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 463-0075
  • Access: a 9-minute walk from Yada Station on the Meitetsu Seto Line, a 14-minute walk from Shin-Moriyama Station on the JR Chūō Main Line.
    Five kilometres from Obata Interchange on Nagoya Second Ring Road via Prefectural Road 15.
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Hiroto Uehara
Hiroto is an ordinary Japanese office worker, but his true mission is searching for castles on the weekend.

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Hiroto Uehara
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Location
〒463-0075 愛知県名古屋市守山区市場4−22

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