The above map shows the power map in 1572.
The light-brown area shows the territory of TAKEDA Shingen. The green area shows the territory of TOKUGAWA Ieyasu. The yellow area shows that of ODA Nobunaga. The northern part of Mikawa Province was the battle area between TOKUGAWA and TAKEDA. The red star symbol shows the location of the "Shitaragahara Battle Field".

TAKEDA Shingen suddenly died in 1573, when he attacked into Mikawa Province. His successor TAKEDA Katsuyori(1546 - 1582), the fourth son of TAKEDA Shingen, also kept penetrating into Totoumi and Mikawa Provinces and expanded his territory.

Please refer the page of "The ruins of Nagashino Castle" for the detailed description.
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Chubu/Nagashino_E.html

Shitaragahara is a hill area along the valley of the Toyokawa River. In the middle of Shitaragahara, the Rengo River, a tributary of the Toyokawa River, flows. The alliance of ODA and TOKUGAWA took up their position on the west side of the Rengo River. The TAKADA army took their position on the other side of the Rengo River.

If you approach the site of the "Shitaragahara Battle Field" from the west side, you will see Mt. Chausu-yama approximately 1.5 kilometers west from the Rengo River. ODA Nobunaga set up his headquarters on the top of Mt. Chausu-yama.

ODA Nobunaga was the leader of the alliance. Considering the location of his headquarters, he was the support corps at the battle. The headquarters of TOKUGAWA Ieyasu was located just 500 meter west of the Rengo River.

As Shitagarahara and Nagashino Castle were located in the territory of TOKUGAWA Ieyasu, he was the person concerned the battle. TOKUGAWA Ieyasu took up the headquarters near the site of the main battle field.

If you will walk over a small hill from the site of the headquarters of TOKUGAWA Ieyasu, you are in the small valley of Rengo River. Rengo River is a small brook. ODA and TOKUGAWA took up their positions on the west side of the Rengo River. TAKEDA Katsuyori positioned up his army on the east side of the Rengo River. ODA - TOIKUGAWA Alliance had an army 30,000 strong. TAKEDA Katsuyori had an army 15,000 strong. The small valley was filled with these troops.

On the west side of the valley, the wooden fences were restored. ODA-TOKUGAWA Alliance arrived at Shitaragahara two days before the war had broken out. TAKEDA had very strong Cavalry. ODA-TOKUGAWA built these fences just in two days, in order to protect their troops against TAKEDA Cavalry. ODA-TOKUGAWA alliance had three thousands of matchlocks. They used these fences to fire matchlocks against TAKEDA Cavalry.

It is very impressive that ODA-TOKUGAWA alliance made these fences just in two days. They prepared these logs before departing their troops at Okazaki and they carried them to Shitaragahara with forty kilometers distance.

Soldiers of TAKEDA Cavalry were killed by matchlocks in front of the wooden fences. The battle brought out at the early in the morning on May 21st, 1575 and ended around noon. It lasted only half day.

There is a monument which tells the place where TSUCHIYA Masatsugu(1545 - 1575) died.

TSUCHIYA Masatsugu was one of twenty-four major military commanders of TAKEDA Army. Surprisingly, the monument is located to the west side of the wooden fences. It indicates that TSUCHIYA Masatsugu broken through the wooden fences with his horse.

If you walk to the east from the main battle field, there is a small hill. On the hill, cultivated land expands. An old farmer was working in the field.

At the south end of the field, there are two graves are located. These graves are for IWSATE Tanehide and OKABE Chikuunsai. They were commanders of TAKEDA Army. Many people died at this battle, especially TAKEDA Army. It is said that ODA-TOKUGAWA Alliance lost approximately five thousands soldiers death and TAKEDA army lost ten to twelve thousands soldiers death.

If you walk to the east and walk down from the small hill, you will see a small pond. This pond is named as "Kubiarai-Ike", which means heads of died soldiers were washed in the pond.

If you walk to the north from the pond, you will see burial mounds. People lived in this area buried the thousands bodies of unknown soldiers.

Near the burial mounds, the Shitaragahara Historical Museum is located. Here, you will learn the battle of Nagashino and Shitaragahara.

The Shitaragahara Battle Field spreads approximately two kilometers along Rengo River. If you walk to the south from the Shitaragahara Historical Museum, you will cross the JR Iida Line. If you walk to the south further five hundreds meter, you will arrive the south end of the "Shitaragahara Battle Field".

A wide and peaceful view of rice fields spreads out. It can not be believed that such a brutal battle broken out in this peace scenery.

The "Shitaragahara Battle" was the turning point in history of Japan. After the battle, TAKEDA Katsuyori had kept losing his power. As there were less concerns and worries from the east side, ODA Nobunaga put his army and power into Kyoto, the political center in Japan at that time, where located to the west from Owari and Mino Provinces. He practically ruled Japan by 1582.

How to get there
From Tokyo and Osaka, take a bullet train on the Tokaido Shinkansen to Toyohashi. Change to a local train on the Iida Line at Toyohashi. Take off the train at Mikawa-Togou. The main battle field is located approximately 1.5 kilometers to the north.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Ruins of Nagashino Castle
Iouji Temple
Ruins of Old Castles in Tsukude
Ruins of Okazaki Castle