Ruins of Nejyo Castle

Nejyo Castle was built by NAMBU Moroyuki in 1334, just after the Kamakura Age (1185 ～ 1333) finished. At that time, Southern Courts and Northen Courts conflicted with each other in Kyoto and all Japan was in the period of war. NAMBU Moroyuki died in 1338 at a battle in the Osaka area.

Nejyo Castle had existed during the Muromachi Age (1336 ～ 1573) , as the base for the NAMBU Family to govern the eastern part of current Aomori Prefecture.

Since 1983, excavational investigation has been conducted and a couple of buildings were rebuilt based on the investigation results. The ruins of Nejyo Castle are now open to the public as a historical park. The existing castle gate was located at the entrance of the Nejyo Castle.

The gate was the east gate of Hachinohe Castle. It is said that it used to be a gate of Nejyo Castle.
After passing through the castle gate, snowfields spread out when I visited Nejyo Castle in December. Nejyo Castle had five baileys and these snowfields used to be the third bailey. An herbal garden was also located in this bailey.

When you walk across the third bailey, you will see an arbour beyond a dry moat. The arbour is located in the second bailey.

The second bailey is approximately ten meters higher than the third bailey. You can look down on the third bailey from the second bailey to the east. Well-maintained Nejyo Historical park was covered by snow.

You can also see rebuilt castle buildings in the main bailey to the west. To the main bailey, you will go across a bridge over the dray moat between the first and the second baileys.

The main bailey is protected by a gate and wooden fences. Two hundred fifty yen admission fee is necessary to get into the main bailey.

The main building in the main bailey was used for state ceremonies and to welcome important guests. The building is very elegant and looks like a palace building.

Nejuo Castle was abandoned in 1627 at the beginning of the Edo Age (1603 - 1868) . Before the Edo Age started, Central Japan had been in an internal war since 1437. Nejyo Castle existed during such unquiet times. The elegant main building may indicate that the NAMBU Family governed this area stable and battles and conflictions did not occur like in Central Japan.

Behind the main building, the site of the building both for the government office and the residence of the castle lord was indicated on the ground.
A stable and warehouses were also rebuilt. The belongings of the castle lord and stored staff are displayed.

The below picture shows the belongings of the castle lord. They are decorated very gorgeously. These buildings and exhibits help you to imagine how Nejyo Castle was 400 years ago and how people in the castle lived in that age.

In Japan, a couple of original castle buildings in the Edo Age (1603 - 1868) exist and some of the castle buildings in the age are rebuilt recently. On the other hand, Nejyo Castle is the limited example that castle buildings in the Muromachi Age (1336 ～ 1573) are rebuilt.

How to get there
From Tokyo, You can take a Tohoku Shinkansen to Hachinohe.
Change to a bus for Hachinohe Downtown (Mikkamachi Bus Stop) through "Tamonogi" Bus Stop. Bus runs in every twenty minutes. Get off the bus at "Nejyo" Bus Stop. It takes you 15 minutes and a bus fare is 200 yen.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Hirosaki Castle
Sannai-Maruyama Archaeological Site
Shibutami
Ruins of Morioka Castle