Moriyama Castle (守山城 Moriyama-jō) was a medieval and early modern castle located in present-day Tamura Town, in the south-eastern part of Kōriyama, Fukushima Prefecture. The castle occupied a strategically advantageous position on a tongue-shaped plateau that projected eastward towards the Kuroishi River.
Following the decline of the Tamura Shōji line, the rising Miharu branch of the Tamura clan established itself at Moriyama Castle. The castle served as the clan's principal stronghold until the early sixteenth century, when they transferred their headquarters to Miharu Castle.
In 1591, the region became part of the domain of Gamō Ujisato (蒲生氏郷, 1556–1595). Ujisato appointed his retainer Tamaru Tomonao (田丸具直) as lord of Moriyama Castle. Control changed again in 1598, when the territory was transferred to Uesugi Kagekatsu (上杉景勝, 1556–1623). During the Uesugi administration, retainers including Suda Nagayoshi (須田長義), Honjō Shigenaga (本庄繁長, 1539–1614) and Takemata Toshitsuna (竹俣利綱) successively held the castle. After the Battle of Sekigahara, Moriyama Castle passed once more to the Gamō family, and in 1600 Gamō Satonari (蒲生郷成, 1572–1610) became its lord.
The castle is thought to have been abandoned in 1615, following the implementation of the Tokugawa shogunate's "one province, one castle" policy (一国一城令ikkoku ichijōrei), which ordered the dismantling of many secondary fortifications throughout Japan.
Archaeological excavations conducted from 2000 onwards have revealed substantial remains, including stone walls, moats and the foundations of buildings. Excavators also recovered numerous ceramic and porcelain artefacts dating from the late sixteenth to the early seventeenth century, shedding light on the castle's final phase of occupation.
The site can be reached by taking the narrow road running east between Moriyama Elementary School and Moriyama Post Office from National Route 49. Visitors should note, however, that there are no signboards indicating the castle site, making it somewhat difficult to find.
Parking is available in the open area occupying the former site of the second bailey (二ノ丸 ninomaru).
A return visit had long been planned for early spring, when the stonework would be more easily visible, but this was not realised until April 2023. The article and several photographs have been updated based on this later survey.
➢ ① Former site of the third bailey (三ノ丸 san-no-maru)
The third bailey was situated around the present-day Moriyama Elementary School. A circuit of the area reveals that it is elevated, surrounded by steep slopes on all sides.
➢ ② Stone walls (石垣)
The castle's stone walls are located below the second bailey (二ノ丸 ninomaru). Extending for approximately 70 metres and rising to a height of six metres, these impressive walls were constructed using the Anō-style masonry technique (穴太積み anōzumi). In front of them lies a dry moat some 25 metres wide. Together, they form a remarkably substantial defensive complex, one that seems almost disproportionate to a castle of Moriyama's scale.
During the first survey of the site, the stone walls proved surprisingly difficult to locate. Enquiries with a resident eventually revealed that this heavily overgrown area was, in fact, the stonework itself. According to the resident, the vegetation had been cut back only a month earlier, but had already regrown to this extent.
The photograph below was taken during the return visit in April 2023, when the stone walls could finally be viewed in their entirety.
➢ ③ Former site of the second bailey (二ノ丸 ni-no-maru)
This broad, levelled enclosure lies immediately in front of the main bailey (本丸 honmaru).
Given the impressive stone walls constructed below the second bailey, it is thought that the castle's principal buildings and administrative facilities were located here.
➢ ④ Former site of the main bailey (本丸 honmaru)
The main bailey occupies the innermost enclosure of the castle site.
The photograph below, taken during the return visit, shows the front of the main bailey. The cherry trees in the foreground are striking, but the sacred tree (goshinboku; 御神木) is even more impressive, its imposing presence dominating the scene.
Today, Shō-hachiman Shrine (正八幡宮 Shōhachiman-gū) stands on the former site of the main bailey.
Remains of an earthen rampart (土塁 dorui) at the rear of the main bailey. The slope beyond the rampart falls away sharply, forming a steep cliff.
Date of visits: 13 September 2014, 4 April 2023
History
According to local tradition, the castle was originally founded by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro (坂上田村麻呂, 758–811). Although this early origin cannot be verified, the area later came under the control of the Tamura Shōji family, a local warrior house that claimed descent from Tamuramaro. The family ruled the surrounding region until the Northern and Southern Courts period (1336–1392).Following the decline of the Tamura Shōji line, the rising Miharu branch of the Tamura clan established itself at Moriyama Castle. The castle served as the clan's principal stronghold until the early sixteenth century, when they transferred their headquarters to Miharu Castle.
In 1591, the region became part of the domain of Gamō Ujisato (蒲生氏郷, 1556–1595). Ujisato appointed his retainer Tamaru Tomonao (田丸具直) as lord of Moriyama Castle. Control changed again in 1598, when the territory was transferred to Uesugi Kagekatsu (上杉景勝, 1556–1623). During the Uesugi administration, retainers including Suda Nagayoshi (須田長義), Honjō Shigenaga (本庄繁長, 1539–1614) and Takemata Toshitsuna (竹俣利綱) successively held the castle. After the Battle of Sekigahara, Moriyama Castle passed once more to the Gamō family, and in 1600 Gamō Satonari (蒲生郷成, 1572–1610) became its lord.
The castle is thought to have been abandoned in 1615, following the implementation of the Tokugawa shogunate's "one province, one castle" policy (一国一城令ikkoku ichijōrei), which ordered the dismantling of many secondary fortifications throughout Japan.
Archaeological excavations conducted from 2000 onwards have revealed substantial remains, including stone walls, moats and the foundations of buildings. Excavators also recovered numerous ceramic and porcelain artefacts dating from the late sixteenth to the early seventeenth century, shedding light on the castle's final phase of occupation.
Structure
Moriyama Castle was laid out in three principal enclosures arranged in ascending order from the base of the plateau: the third bailey (三ノ丸 sannomaru), second bailey (二ノ丸 ninomaru) and main bailey (本丸 honmaru). The site overlooked important transport routes. Today, the route of the Suigun Line and National Route 49 passes immediately west of the castle, suggesting that the area already functioned as a key communications corridor during the castle's active period.Map created using GSI Maps provided by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan. The positions of the baileys and other features are conjectural and should not be regarded as definitive.
Access
The castle ruins are located approximately 600 metres east of Iwaki-Moriyama Station (磐城守山駅) on the JR Suigun Line.The site can be reached by taking the narrow road running east between Moriyama Elementary School and Moriyama Post Office from National Route 49. Visitors should note, however, that there are no signboards indicating the castle site, making it somewhat difficult to find.
Parking is available in the open area occupying the former site of the second bailey (二ノ丸 ninomaru).
Visit Report
The first visit to Moriyama Castle took place in September 2014. At that time, the stone walls, the site's most notable surviving feature, were almost entirely concealed by dense vegetation.A return visit had long been planned for early spring, when the stonework would be more easily visible, but this was not realised until April 2023. The article and several photographs have been updated based on this later survey.
➢ ① Former site of the third bailey (三ノ丸 san-no-maru)
The third bailey was situated around the present-day Moriyama Elementary School. A circuit of the area reveals that it is elevated, surrounded by steep slopes on all sides.
➢ ② Stone walls (石垣)
The castle's stone walls are located below the second bailey (二ノ丸 ninomaru). Extending for approximately 70 metres and rising to a height of six metres, these impressive walls were constructed using the Anō-style masonry technique (穴太積み anōzumi). In front of them lies a dry moat some 25 metres wide. Together, they form a remarkably substantial defensive complex, one that seems almost disproportionate to a castle of Moriyama's scale.
During the first survey of the site, the stone walls proved surprisingly difficult to locate. Enquiries with a resident eventually revealed that this heavily overgrown area was, in fact, the stonework itself. According to the resident, the vegetation had been cut back only a month earlier, but had already regrown to this extent.
The photograph below was taken during the return visit in April 2023, when the stone walls could finally be viewed in their entirety.
➢ ③ Former site of the second bailey (二ノ丸 ni-no-maru)
This broad, levelled enclosure lies immediately in front of the main bailey (本丸 honmaru).
Given the impressive stone walls constructed below the second bailey, it is thought that the castle's principal buildings and administrative facilities were located here.
➢ ④ Former site of the main bailey (本丸 honmaru)
The main bailey occupies the innermost enclosure of the castle site.
The photograph below, taken during the return visit, shows the front of the main bailey. The cherry trees in the foreground are striking, but the sacred tree (goshinboku; 御神木) is even more impressive, its imposing presence dominating the scene.
Today, Shō-hachiman Shrine (正八幡宮 Shōhachiman-gū) stands on the former site of the main bailey.
Remains of an earthen rampart (土塁 dorui) at the rear of the main bailey. The slope beyond the rampart falls away sharply, forming a steep cliff.
Date of visits: 13 September 2014, 4 April 2023
Access:
- Address: Tamura-machi Moriyama, Sannomaru, Kōriyama, Fukushima Prefecture 963-1155
- Access: Approximately a 10-minute walk from Suigun Line Iwaki-Moriyama Station (磐城守山駅) on the JR Suigun Line. Approximately 8 kilometres from the Sukagawa Interchange on the Tōhoku Expressway via Fukushima Prefectural Route 54.
- Parking: free parking is available at the former site of the second bailey (二ノ丸 ninomaru) (marked "P" on the map above).