Yamanaka Castle (山中城 Yamanaka-jō) was a yamajiro-style castle built by the Odawara Hōjō clan in Tagata District, Izu Province, in modern-day eastern Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture. The castle site was designated a National Historic Site in 1988.
Yamanaka Castle lies in the Hakone mountains. Located just across the Tokaidō Highway, it is easy to figure out why it served as an entrance (虎口 koguchi) to Hakone, the main gateway to the Kantō region.
Based on the Aerial Photograph Service of the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan. The location of the enclosures is estimated.
The castle was built by the Hōjō clan in the Eiroku era (永禄, 1558-1570) to defend Odawara. In 1589 (Tensho 17), in preparation for Toyotomi Hideyoshi's attack on Odawara, the castle was expanded to include the Nishi-no-maru (西ノ丸) and Demaru (出丸), but in March of the following year, it was surrounded by a 40,000 strong Toyotomi army and fell in just half a day. The tombs of Matsuda Yasunaga (松田康長, 1537-1590), the lord of the castle at the time, his second-in-command Mamiya Yasutoshi (間宮康俊, 1518-1590), and Hitotsuyanagi Naosue (一柳直末, 1553-1590), who was killed in battle on the Toyotomi side, are located in the precincts of Sōkan-ji Temple (宗閑寺) in a corner of the castle site.
The structure of the castle comprises the northeastern part, including the main citadel, flanked by the Tokaidō Highway, and the southwestern part, including the additional area around the Daisaki Demaru (岱崎出丸). The castle has well-preserved moats and earthworks. The method of construction and the turf layout of these structures are characteristic of the Hōjō style of castle construction.
Based on the Aerial Photograph Service of the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan. The location of the enclosures is estimated.
We drove to Yamanaka Castle from Yugawara. From the seaside town, the road climbs steeply up to the Hakone Pass, 846 metres above sea level. After crossing the pass and following National Route 1, or Tokaidō Highway, in the direction of Mishima, you will reach the ruins of the castle. Parking is available between the San-no-maru (三ノ丸) and Daisaki Demaru (岱崎出丸). It is also possible to take the bus from Mishima Station.
① The old Hakone Highway has been partially restored. It is quite a magnificent road, but of course, the cobbles were only laid down in the Edo period.
We first visited Daisaki Demaru, located in the southwest of the castle. Daisaki Demaru was extended in 1589 in preparation for Hideyoshi's attack on Odawara but was never completed.
② This is the site of the Demaru Onbaba (出丸御馬場), surrounded by earthworks and a deep valley in the middle of Daisaki Demaru. It is said to have been handed down from ancient times as the remains of an old horse field.
The view of Mount Fuji is one of the highlights of this castle ruin, but unfortunately, just its summit peeked through the clouds.
However, the main feature of Yamanaka Castle is the restored ridged dugout (畝堀 unehori). This is the ridged ditch on the north side of Daisaki Demaru. The ridges prevent the attackers from moving to the left or right.
③ Suribachi Kuruwa (すり鉢曲輪)
This is a roundabout located at the tip of Daisaki Demaru. It is characterised by its hollowed-out, mortar-shaped interior.
Following the Daisaki Demaru, cross Route 1 and head towards the main circle.
④ Sōkan-ji Temple (宗閑寺)
The temple is located at the site of the former San-no-maru. It is lined with the graves of warlords who died in battle, including Matsuda Yasunaga, lord of the castle on the Hōjō side, his deputy Mamiya Yasutoshi and Hitotsuyanagi Naosue on the Toyotomi side.
⑤ Ruins of box wells (箱井戸跡)
The well has an abundance of spring water and is thought to have been used as drinking water for the castle's garrison.
⑥ Ni-no-maru (二ノ丸) aka Hōjō Maru (北条丸）
The right side of the photo shows the empty moat between the main enclosure and the turret in the back.
⑦ Honmaru (本丸)
Located on the highest point in the castle, it is surrounded by solid earthworks and a deep moat. According to an Edo period map, the Honmaru hall was built around the present wisteria trellis.
⑧ Ruins of the donjon (天守櫓跡)
This is located in a corner of the Honmaru. It is a 7.5-metre square with a low passage around it, so it is assumed that a high turret was built here.
Yatate cedar (矢立の杉)
This is a large cedar tree over 30 metres high that rises near the ruins of the keep tower. It is estimated to be around 500 years old. According to an ancient document, when going into battle, an arrow was shot into this cedar to predict victory or defeat.
Ruins of the army depot (兵糧庫跡 Hyōrōko-ato)
This is a low-lying area on the south side of the main circle, where it is said that there was an army ration storehouse or ammunition depot from ancient times. Pillar holes have been found in one corner of the area.
⑨ Kita-no-maru (北ノ丸)
A defence on the northern side of the main circle, surrounded by earthworks. A wooden bridge has been restored on the moat between it and the main circle.
⑩ Nishi-no-maru (西ノ丸)
Extensive redevelopment work is underway.
The ridge is also partially under construction. At that time, the area was not vegetated and the soil of the Kantō loam layer was bare, which is thought to have made it slippery and difficult to climb. This is therefore the original appearance.
Shōji moat (障子堀)
The ridges look like the cleats of a shōji (paper sliding door), hence the name Shōji Moat. The depressions also served as irrigation ponds and were filled with water.
This is the ridged moat on the south side of Nishi-no-maru.
The ruins of the San-no-maru Moat (三ノ丸堀跡)
From here, we walked straight back to the parking lot.
Date of visit: 18 January 2014
Yamanaka Castle lies in the Hakone mountains. Located just across the Tokaidō Highway, it is easy to figure out why it served as an entrance (虎口 koguchi) to Hakone, the main gateway to the Kantō region.
Based on the Aerial Photograph Service of the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan. The location of the enclosures is estimated.
The castle was built by the Hōjō clan in the Eiroku era (永禄, 1558-1570) to defend Odawara. In 1589 (Tensho 17), in preparation for Toyotomi Hideyoshi's attack on Odawara, the castle was expanded to include the Nishi-no-maru (西ノ丸) and Demaru (出丸), but in March of the following year, it was surrounded by a 40,000 strong Toyotomi army and fell in just half a day. The tombs of Matsuda Yasunaga (松田康長, 1537-1590), the lord of the castle at the time, his second-in-command Mamiya Yasutoshi (間宮康俊, 1518-1590), and Hitotsuyanagi Naosue (一柳直末, 1553-1590), who was killed in battle on the Toyotomi side, are located in the precincts of Sōkan-ji Temple (宗閑寺) in a corner of the castle site.
The structure of the castle comprises the northeastern part, including the main citadel, flanked by the Tokaidō Highway, and the southwestern part, including the additional area around the Daisaki Demaru (岱崎出丸). The castle has well-preserved moats and earthworks. The method of construction and the turf layout of these structures are characteristic of the Hōjō style of castle construction.
Based on the Aerial Photograph Service of the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan. The location of the enclosures is estimated.
We drove to Yamanaka Castle from Yugawara. From the seaside town, the road climbs steeply up to the Hakone Pass, 846 metres above sea level. After crossing the pass and following National Route 1, or Tokaidō Highway, in the direction of Mishima, you will reach the ruins of the castle. Parking is available between the San-no-maru (三ノ丸) and Daisaki Demaru (岱崎出丸). It is also possible to take the bus from Mishima Station.
① The old Hakone Highway has been partially restored. It is quite a magnificent road, but of course, the cobbles were only laid down in the Edo period.
We first visited Daisaki Demaru, located in the southwest of the castle. Daisaki Demaru was extended in 1589 in preparation for Hideyoshi's attack on Odawara but was never completed.
② This is the site of the Demaru Onbaba (出丸御馬場), surrounded by earthworks and a deep valley in the middle of Daisaki Demaru. It is said to have been handed down from ancient times as the remains of an old horse field.
The view of Mount Fuji is one of the highlights of this castle ruin, but unfortunately, just its summit peeked through the clouds.
However, the main feature of Yamanaka Castle is the restored ridged dugout (畝堀 unehori). This is the ridged ditch on the north side of Daisaki Demaru. The ridges prevent the attackers from moving to the left or right.
③ Suribachi Kuruwa (すり鉢曲輪)
This is a roundabout located at the tip of Daisaki Demaru. It is characterised by its hollowed-out, mortar-shaped interior.
Following the Daisaki Demaru, cross Route 1 and head towards the main circle.
④ Sōkan-ji Temple (宗閑寺)
The temple is located at the site of the former San-no-maru. It is lined with the graves of warlords who died in battle, including Matsuda Yasunaga, lord of the castle on the Hōjō side, his deputy Mamiya Yasutoshi and Hitotsuyanagi Naosue on the Toyotomi side.
⑤ Ruins of box wells (箱井戸跡)
The well has an abundance of spring water and is thought to have been used as drinking water for the castle's garrison.
⑥ Ni-no-maru (二ノ丸) aka Hōjō Maru (北条丸）
The right side of the photo shows the empty moat between the main enclosure and the turret in the back.
⑦ Honmaru (本丸)
Located on the highest point in the castle, it is surrounded by solid earthworks and a deep moat. According to an Edo period map, the Honmaru hall was built around the present wisteria trellis.
⑧ Ruins of the donjon (天守櫓跡)
This is located in a corner of the Honmaru. It is a 7.5-metre square with a low passage around it, so it is assumed that a high turret was built here.
Yatate cedar (矢立の杉)
This is a large cedar tree over 30 metres high that rises near the ruins of the keep tower. It is estimated to be around 500 years old. According to an ancient document, when going into battle, an arrow was shot into this cedar to predict victory or defeat.
Ruins of the army depot (兵糧庫跡 Hyōrōko-ato)
This is a low-lying area on the south side of the main circle, where it is said that there was an army ration storehouse or ammunition depot from ancient times. Pillar holes have been found in one corner of the area.
⑨ Kita-no-maru (北ノ丸)
A defence on the northern side of the main circle, surrounded by earthworks. A wooden bridge has been restored on the moat between it and the main circle.
⑩ Nishi-no-maru (西ノ丸)
Extensive redevelopment work is underway.
The ridge is also partially under construction. At that time, the area was not vegetated and the soil of the Kantō loam layer was bare, which is thought to have made it slippery and difficult to climb. This is therefore the original appearance.
Shōji moat (障子堀)
The ridges look like the cleats of a shōji (paper sliding door), hence the name Shōji Moat. The depressions also served as irrigation ponds and were filled with water.
This is the ridged moat on the south side of Nishi-no-maru.
The ruins of the San-no-maru Moat (三ノ丸堀跡)
From here, we walked straight back to the parking lot.
Date of visit: 18 January 2014
Access:
- Address: 410-4 Yamanaka Shinden, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-0011
- Access: take a bus from Mishima Station on JR Tokaidō Honsen Line.
8 kilometres from Mishima-Tsukabara IC of Izu Jukan Expressway via National Route 1. - Parking: Free parking lot.
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