Ruins of Matsushiro Castle in Nagano

Ruins of Matsushiro Castle, Nagano

Matsushiro Castle was originally built in 1560 by TAKEDA Shingen (1521 - 1573), who was the lord of "Kai" province, present Yamanashi Prefecture. TAKEDA Shingen expanded his territory to the north, where the territory of UESUGI Kenshin(1530 - 1578) was located. Both TAKEDA Shingen and UESUGI Kenshin were recognized as the most strongest samurai lords at the end of the "Muromachi" Age (1336 - 1573).

In 1600, MORI Tadamasa (1570 - 1634) became the castle lord of Matsushiro Castle. In 1622, SANADA Nobuyuki (1566 - 1658) became the Feudal Lord of Matsushiro Domain and the castle lord of Matsushiro Castle. Matsushiro Castle was the palace of the feudal lord and the government offices of Matsushiro Domain. The castle was abandoned in 1872, five years after the "Edo" Age (1603 - 1868) was ended.

The Main Bailey of Matsushiro Castle

The ruins of Matsushiro Castle are located in the middle of Nagano Prefecture, near the Chikuma River. TAKEDA Shingen and UESUGI Kenshin battled five times between 1553 and 1564 in this area. TAKEDA Shingen built Matsushiro Castle as a fort just before the fourth battle between them.

The main bailey was located to the north of the castle and the second bailey surrounded the main bailey. The third bailey was located to the southernmost area of the castle. From 2004, the sites of the main bailey and the second bailey have been being renovated.

If you approach Matsushiro Castle from the south, you will enter the castle from the south gate in the second bailey.

The stone foundations of the south gate in the second bailey remain. The gate building spanned these stone foundations in the "Edo" Age.

After crossing "Taiko-Mon Mae" Bridge, you will go through "Taiko-Mon" Gate.

"Taiko-Mon" Gate was the main entrance of the main bailey. The gate has square-shaped area and there are two gates on the north side and the south side of the area. The south side gate is a smaller gate, called "Korai-Mon" gate. The other one is "Yagura-Mon" gate. This style of gate provides the strongest protection.

You will see "TaikoMon Mae" Bridge from the smaller gate of "Taiko-Mon" Gate.

"Taiko-Mon" Gate was rebuilt in 2004. The larger gate on the north side of the square area is the main gate building, shown on the below picture.

Beyond "Taiko-Mon" Gate, the main bailey is located. There is no castle buildings in the main bailey now. The castle palace for the residence of the feudal lords and the government offices of Matsushiro Domain were located in the "Edo" Age.

The main bailey is surrounded by stone walls. On your right, the site of "Higashi-Fumei-Mon" Gate is located. You will see "Kita-Fumei-Mon" Gate at the north end of the main bailey.

At the north-west corner of the main bailey, the foundation of the turret remains. The foundation is covered by stone walls. From the foundation, you will see the north part of the second bailey and "Kita-Fumei-Mon" Gate, located at the northernmost part of the main bailey.

"Kita-Fumei-Mon" Gate was the back gate of Matsushiro Castle. "Kita-Fumei-Mon" Gate had the Architectural style before the "Edo" Age.

"Kita-Fumei-Mon" Gate was rebuilt in 2004, as it was in the "Edo" Age. Just out side of the gate, the stone monument of the site of "Kita-Fumei-Mon" Gate is located. The view of the monument and the gate is very impressive.

The Second Bailey of Matsushiro Castle

Before visiting the main bailey, I walked around the second bailey in the clockwise direction. The west part of the second bailey was located between the inner moat and the earthen walls. The earthen walls divided the west part and the north part of the second bailey. "Uzumi-Mon" Gate connects the west part and the north part of the second bailey through the earthen walls.

The north part of the second bailey was well maintained. You will see the foundation, with covered by stone walls, of the turret at the north-west corner of the main bailey. In the middle, "Fumei-Mon" Gate is located.

At the north end of the second bailey, "Shin-Hori" moat is located, shown in the below-left picture. The below right picture shows the outer moat between the east side and the north side of the second bailey.

The east side of the second bailey is also well maintained and the scenery of the east side of the second bailey was very beautiful. There used to be the castle palace for the family of the castle lord.

I walked into the main bailey from the east part of the second bailey to the main bailey through "Higashi-Fumei-Mon" Gate. "Higashi-Fumei-Mon" Gate had a gate building over the foundations covered by stone walls. You will be able to enter the main bailey through "Higashi-Fumei-Mon" Gate.

Matsushiro Castle is now being revived as it was in the "Edo" Age. The ruins of the castle are well maintained and beautiful. They are one of recommended ruins of castles in Japan.