Hachigata Castle 鉢形城跡

I went to see the Hachigata Castle in Yorii Town, Saitama, the day before yesterday for the first time. This medieval castle is said to have been built in 1476 and lost its lord when its defenders surrendered after a month long seige in 1560. I had thought the castle to be smaller and on a steeper hill before the visit. I was surprised by the spacious area. It has seven or eight kuruwa (defensive quarters) in it. It utilizes the Ara River as the northwestern defensive line and the Fukazawa River gorge as the eastern defensive line. Ditches, stone walls and earth bunkers were constructed for its southern defense. Ote (main) gate was at this upstream point and Karamete (rear) gate was near the confluence of the two rivers downstream. The photo shows the restored gate of San-no-kuruwa, the third defensive quarter, and Ote (main) gate was somewhere near the small torii to the left in the photo. The second photo is the Ara River viewed from the top of San-no-kuruwa.

 

一昨日の１７日に埼玉県寄居町の鉢形城跡に行きました。戦国時代の城ということで、もっと険しい丘に築かれていたと思っていましたが、城内には平らな場所も多く、かなり広々としていて、先入観は間違っていました。荒川とこれに合流する支流の深沢川の谷をうまく利用し、南側（上流側）には堀などで防御をほどこしてあります。こちらの方が大手で、下流の二つの川の合流するあたりが搦め手とされています。

町が観光に力を入れているようで、三の曲輪の四脚門やその周辺の石垣が復元され、曲輪の跡の相当の面積は、きれいな芝生になっていました。鉢形城歴史館という展示施設もあります。