Ruins of Ogyu Castle in Aichi

Ruins of Ogyu Castle, Aichi

The ruins of Ogyu Castle are located at the west end of Mikawa High-Land in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. The location of the ruins of Ogyu Castle are very closed to Matsudaira village, where the ancestral home of the MASTUDAIRA Clan. TOKUGAWA Ieyasu(1543 - 1616), who was the first "Shogunate" in the "Edo" Age (1603 - 1868) was the ninth head of MASTUDAIRA Clan.

Ogyu Castle was originally built by NAGASAKA Shinzaemon at the end of the fifteenth century. MATSUDAIRA Nobumitsu(? - ?), who was the third head of MATSUDAIRA Clan, conquered Ogyu castle. MATSUDAIRA Chikatada(1431 - 1501), the third son of MATSUDAIRA Nobumitsu, became the castle lord of Ogyu Castle. MATSUDAIRA Norimoto, the second son of MATSUDAIRA Chikatada, hereditary became the castle lord of Ogyu Castle. MATSUDAIRA Norimoto was the first generation of the Ogyu-MATSUDAIRA Clan.

The entrance of the ruins of Ogyu Castle is on the National Route 301. You will see peaceful landscape with mountains and rice fields.

You will walk up the trail to the Ogyu Castle. It was in the early autumn, when I visited. Fallen leaves covered the trail.

If you reach the mountain ridge, the ruins of Ogyu Castle are on your left. On your right, the mausoleum of MATSUDAIRA Norimoto, who was the third castle lord of Ogyu Castle is located. The below pictures show the mausoleum of MATSUDAIRA Norimoto.

It was very silent and a sacred atmosphere. The mausoleum was well maintained and kept in a good condition. It was very impressive.

After visiting the mausoleum of MATSUDAIRA Norimoto, I walked to the ruins of Ogyu Castle. Ogyu Castle had many baileys and each bailey was surrounded by earthen walls. The part of the earth wall was cut-off as for the gate. The below picture shows the site of the gate of Ogyu Castle.

Near the site of the gate, the monument of Ogyu Castle is located.

The monument says the ruins of Ogyu Castle are designated as National Historic Sites.

As several baileys were located and many of these baileys were surrounded by earth walls, there are other sited of the gates (cut-off portions of earth walls).

In the ruins of Ogyu Castle, there are huge rocks in Ogyu Castle as shown in the below picture.

The below picture shows the "South Bailey", located in the Southernmost area of Ogyu Castle. Autumn leaves in the "South Bailey" were shining against the sun light. The view of the "South Bailey" was very beautiful.

In the westernmost area of Ogyu Castle, the main bailey is located. There are also huge rocks in the main bailey. The castle monument is placed on a rock.

The area of the main bailey is approximately twenty-five are. The earth walls are located to the east end of the main bailey.

To the west, at the end of the main bailey, two huge rocks are located. These rocks are named "Monomi-Iwa" in Japanese, which means the "guardians' rocks".

As these rocks are located at the west end of the mountains, the view from the rocks is spectacular. You will see tall buildings in Nagoya, the fourth biggest city in Japan, where approximately thirty kilometers west from Ogyu Castle.

Ogyu Castle was abandoned in 1590 when TOKUGAWA Ieyasu and his retainers moved to Kanto Area. After more than 400 years have passed, the ruins of Ogyu Castle well maintain the atmosphere when it was active.

How to get there
From Tokyo, take a Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya. At Nagoya, change to a Meitetsu Line bound for Toyohashi. Change at Chiryu to Toyotashi. Take a Oiden-Bus bound for Onuma. Get off the bus at Oouchi. It will take you approximately twenty minutes to the ruins of Ogyu Castle from Oouchi Bus Stop.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Matsudaira Area
Ruins of Koromo Castle
Mikawa Highlands
Asuke Post Town
Meiji Irrigation Water