山中城
Yamanaka Castle
Présentation
Yamanaka Castle on the western slopes of Hakone (approx. 580 m) in Shizuoka Prefecture was the Later Hōjō clan's most critical fortress guarding the Tōkaidō road. Founded around 1558–1570 and urgently expanded before the expected Toyotomi invasion, it fell on March 29, 1590, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi's massive army of some 60,000 attacked the garrison of around 4,000. The castle fell in barely half a day despite fierce resistance — castle captain Matsuda Yasunaga and Mamiya Yasutoshi both died in the fighting. The castle's extraordinary 'shōji-bori' (latticed moats) and 'une-bori' (ridged moats), unique defensive earthworks designed to trap invaders in mud, are now beautifully maintained as grassy public exhibits. The ruins offer panoramic views of Mount Fuji, the Izu Peninsula, and Suruga Bay.
Lien avec les sabres
Yamanaka Castle and the Later Hōjō clan are inseparable from Sōshū-den, the supreme tradition of Japanese swordmaking centered on Sagami Province (Kanagawa), which the Hōjō dominated. The tradition produced Masamune, Sadamune, Akihiro, and Hiromasa — the greatest smiths in Japanese sword history. The Hōjō, rulers of Sagami, were the most direct inheritors of this sword culture. The desperate last stand at Yamanaka Castle — half a day against vastly superior Toyotomi forces — embodies the spirit of the Sōshū sword: fighting to the end with unbreakable resolve. The Mishima City Hakone Yamanaka Castle Ruins Museum displays castle history, defensive earthwork models, and related arms.
Points d'intérêt
- Shōji-bori and une-bori — extraordinary latticed and ridged moats, uniquely maintained as grassy exhibits
- Panoramic view of Mount Fuji and Suruga Bay — among the finest views on the Tōkaidō
- Daisaki-demaru outpost — where the final stand was made
- Mishima City Yamanaka Castle Ruins Museum — Hōjō castle history and arms
- Hakone hot springs (approx. 20 min) — natural complement to a castle-ruins hike
* Les horaires d'ouverture et les tarifs sont susceptibles de changer. Veuillez consulter le site officiel avant votre visite.
Châteaux à proximité
松本城
National TreasureMatsumoto Castle
Seigneur: Ishikawa Kazumasa / Matsudaira clan
犬山城
National TreasureInuyama Castle
Seigneur: Naruse Masanari / Naruse clan
名古屋城
Special Historic SiteNagoya Castle
Seigneur: Tokugawa Yoshinao (first lord of Owari Tokugawa)
金沢城
National Historic SiteKanazawa Castle
Seigneur: Maeda Toshiie / Maeda clan
丸岡城
Important Cultural Property (extant tower)Maruoka Castle
Seigneur: Shibata Katsutoyo / Arima clan
上田城
National Historic SiteUeda Castle
Seigneur: Sanada Masayuki / Sanada clan
躑躅ヶ崎館（武田氏館）
National Historic SiteTsutsujigasaki Yakata (Takeda Clan Residence)
Seigneur: Takeda Shingen / Takeda clan
春日山城
National Historic SiteKasugayama Castle
Seigneur: Uesugi Kenshin / Uesugi clan
岐阜城
National Historic SiteGifu Castle
Seigneur: Nikaidō clan (Inabayama Castle) / Saitō Dōsan / Oda Nobunaga
駿府城
National Historic SiteSunpu Castle
Seigneur: Imagawa clan / Toyotomi Ujitsugu / Tokugawa Ieyasu
清洲城
Reconstructed keep (rebuilt 1989)Kiyosu Castle
Seigneur: Oda Nobunaga (during unification of Owari)
大垣城
Ogaki City Historic SiteOgaki Castle
Seigneur: Ishida Mitsunari
高遠城
National Historic SiteTakato Castle
Seigneur: Takeda Shingen / Hoshina Masayuki
岡崎城
National Historic SiteOkazaki Castle
Seigneur: Tokugawa Ieyasu
甲府城（舞鶴城）
National Historic SiteKōfu Castle (Maizuru Castle)
Seigneur: Hashiba Hidekatsu / Tokugawa Yoshinao
浜松城
National Historic SiteHamamatsu Castle
Seigneur: Tokugawa Ieyasu
小牧山城
National Historic SiteKomakiyama Castle
Seigneur: Oda Nobunaga
津城
National Historic SiteTsu Castle
Seigneur: Tōdō Takatora
吉田城
National Historic SiteYoshida Castle
Seigneur: Makino Narimitsu / Matsudaira clan / Matsui-Matsudaira clan
掛川城
National Historic Site; wooden reconstruction of original towerKakegawa Castle
Seigneur: Yamauchi Kazutoyo / Ota clan
岩村城
National Historic SiteIwamura Castle
Seigneur: Katō Kagenori / Tōyama Kageto / Lady Otsuya
七尾城
National Historic SiteNanao Castle
Seigneur: Hatakeyama Yoshifusa / Uesugi Kenshin (captor)