Namioka Castle (浪岡城 Namioka-jō) was a flatland castle (平城 hirajiro) located in the former town of Namioka, southwest of Aomori City. The castle ruins were designated a National Historic Site in 1940. They were added to the "Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles" in 2017.
Namioka Castle was ruled by the Namioka Kitabatake clan (浪岡北畠氏), whose ancestors were Kitabatake Chikafusa (北畠親房) and Akiie (北畠顕家), who supported Emperor Go-Daigo (後醍醐天皇) during the Nanboku-cho period (1336-92). It is believed that their descendants ruled this land from the late 14th century with the support of the Nanbu clan (南部氏), vassals of the Southern Court. Namioka Castle was built around 1460. In the first half of the 16th century, the clan reached its peak under Namioka Tomonaga (浪岡具永, 1487-1555). The region flourished as the Namioka had active exchanges with Kyōto and built many shrines in their territory. As the descendants of the prestigious Kitabatake clan, they were respected by the neighbours, and Namioka Castle was known as Namioka Palace (浪岡御所).
However, in 1562, a conflict broke out among the relatives, and their power declined. They were then attacked and destroyed by Ohura (Tsugaru) Tamenobu (大浦 (津軽) 為信), who rose to prominence in 1578. After that, Namioka Castle came under the control of the Tsugaru clan but was eventually abandoned.
The castle was built on a hill in the basin of the Namioka River. The scale was vast, measuring 1200 metres east-west and 600 metres north-south. The castle consisted of eight enclosures separated by moats, comprising approximately 136,300 square metres. The site of the castle remains in ruins, and only about 30 per cent were excavated. Over 50,000 artefacts, including tableware, cooking utensils, weapons, farming tools, and religious implements, have been recovered over the past twenty years. Of the excavated items, 16,000 were ceramics, more than half of which were made in China, bearing witness to the high level of culture of the Kitabatake clan. There are also teapots made in China that demonstrate the cultural authority of the Kitabatake clan.
Aerial photographs taken from Geographical Survey Institute maps. The location of the enclosures is estimated.
Looking around the terrain, you can see that Namioka Castle is located at the eastern end of the Tsugaru Plain. It is a strategic transportation point to the centre of Aomori City, which lies beyond the mountain range on the east side.
Aerial photographs taken from Geographical Survey Institute maps.
I rented a car at Aomori Station and headed first to the ruins of Namioka Castle. Crossing a mountain, I reached the old Namioka town on the Tsugaru Plain.
① Aomori City Medieval Hall (青森市中世の館)
First, we stopped by the Aomori City Medieval Museum, located west of the ruins and viewed exhibits about the Namioka clan and Namioka Castle.
Then we walked towards the castle ruins. There is a parking lot southeast of the castle ruins, so you can also move around by car.
② Namioka Hachimangu Shrine (浪岡八幡宮)
Along the way is the Namioka Hachimangu Shrine, which has old ties with the Namioka clan.
Arriving at the castle ruins entrance.
Namioka River flows southward. The hill in the back is the castle ruins.
③ Inner courtyards - 内館（うちだて Uchidate)
This is where the castle lord lived.
④ Western building (西館 にしだて Nishidate）
One of the features of Namioka Castle is that it has earthen walls in the middle of the moats between the enclosures, creating double moats.
⑤ North Building (北館 きただて Kitadate)
This is where the retainers lived. The area of the samurai residence has been recreated.
This is what it looked like at that time. It was more of a "yakata", a row of residences, than a pure military facility.
⑥ Eastern building (東館 ひがしだて Higashidate)
After the demise of the Namioka clan, Tsugaru Tamenobu's younger brother is said to have established a magistrate's office here.
⑦ Sarugaku-date (猿楽館 さるがくだて)
⑧ New building (新館 しんだて Shindate)
It is located further east of the east building across the street. This is the newest enclosure in the castle, which was expanded in the Taiei era (1520s).
Date of visit: 15 June 2014
Namioka Castle was ruled by the Namioka Kitabatake clan (浪岡北畠氏), whose ancestors were Kitabatake Chikafusa (北畠親房) and Akiie (北畠顕家), who supported Emperor Go-Daigo (後醍醐天皇) during the Nanboku-cho period (1336-92). It is believed that their descendants ruled this land from the late 14th century with the support of the Nanbu clan (南部氏), vassals of the Southern Court. Namioka Castle was built around 1460. In the first half of the 16th century, the clan reached its peak under Namioka Tomonaga (浪岡具永, 1487-1555). The region flourished as the Namioka had active exchanges with Kyōto and built many shrines in their territory. As the descendants of the prestigious Kitabatake clan, they were respected by the neighbours, and Namioka Castle was known as Namioka Palace (浪岡御所).
However, in 1562, a conflict broke out among the relatives, and their power declined. They were then attacked and destroyed by Ohura (Tsugaru) Tamenobu (大浦 (津軽) 為信), who rose to prominence in 1578. After that, Namioka Castle came under the control of the Tsugaru clan but was eventually abandoned.
The castle was built on a hill in the basin of the Namioka River. The scale was vast, measuring 1200 metres east-west and 600 metres north-south. The castle consisted of eight enclosures separated by moats, comprising approximately 136,300 square metres. The site of the castle remains in ruins, and only about 30 per cent were excavated. Over 50,000 artefacts, including tableware, cooking utensils, weapons, farming tools, and religious implements, have been recovered over the past twenty years. Of the excavated items, 16,000 were ceramics, more than half of which were made in China, bearing witness to the high level of culture of the Kitabatake clan. There are also teapots made in China that demonstrate the cultural authority of the Kitabatake clan.
Aerial photographs taken from Geographical Survey Institute maps. The location of the enclosures is estimated.
Looking around the terrain, you can see that Namioka Castle is located at the eastern end of the Tsugaru Plain. It is a strategic transportation point to the centre of Aomori City, which lies beyond the mountain range on the east side.
Aerial photographs taken from Geographical Survey Institute maps.
I rented a car at Aomori Station and headed first to the ruins of Namioka Castle. Crossing a mountain, I reached the old Namioka town on the Tsugaru Plain.
① Aomori City Medieval Hall (青森市中世の館)
First, we stopped by the Aomori City Medieval Museum, located west of the ruins and viewed exhibits about the Namioka clan and Namioka Castle.
Then we walked towards the castle ruins. There is a parking lot southeast of the castle ruins, so you can also move around by car.
② Namioka Hachimangu Shrine (浪岡八幡宮)
Along the way is the Namioka Hachimangu Shrine, which has old ties with the Namioka clan.
Arriving at the castle ruins entrance.
Namioka River flows southward. The hill in the back is the castle ruins.
③ Inner courtyards - 内館（うちだて Uchidate)
This is where the castle lord lived.
④ Western building (西館 にしだて Nishidate）
One of the features of Namioka Castle is that it has earthen walls in the middle of the moats between the enclosures, creating double moats.
⑤ North Building (北館 きただて Kitadate)
This is where the retainers lived. The area of the samurai residence has been recreated.
This is what it looked like at that time. It was more of a "yakata", a row of residences, than a pure military facility.
⑥ Eastern building (東館 ひがしだて Higashidate)
After the demise of the Namioka clan, Tsugaru Tamenobu's younger brother is said to have established a magistrate's office here.
⑦ Sarugaku-date (猿楽館 さるがくだて)
⑧ New building (新館 しんだて Shindate)
It is located further east of the east building across the street. This is the newest enclosure in the castle, which was expanded in the Taiei era (1520s).
Date of visit: 15 June 2014
Access:
- Address: Gosho-14-1 Namioka Oaza Namioka, Aomori, 038-1311
- Access: a 25-minute walk from Namioka Station on the JR Ou Main Line; six kilometres via National Route 7 from Namioka Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway
- Parking: Southeast castle ruins or medieval mansion parking lot (free: point 'P' on the above map)
Link:
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