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The mountain-top where Kasugayama Castle once stood

 

About

Kasugayama Castle was a castle in Japan built in the Sengoku Period (Warring States period 1467-1600). It was one of the largest and strongest mountain castles built and was the Home Base castle for Uesugi Kenshin, one of Japan's most famous Daimyo Lords. Unfortunately all the castle structures are completely gone. If you visit you will be able to see various earthwork's that still remain and areas where the original structures stood. This attraction is not a glamorous visual site but the history and importance the castle played in Japanese history is of great significance. This location is for those interested in Japan's Sengoku Jidai history and for those who enjoy visiting castle ruins.

Kasugayama Castle was a mountain castle and the main keep sat at the very top of Kasuga Mountain (in English, "Yama" means mountain). Originally there was no moat and very little stonework walls (if any). The castle's defense relied on the sheer steepness of the mountain, wooden walls/gates and earthwork that created dry moats and natural walls. In the images on this page you can see many areas where the earth has been excavated to create "wall" type defence's. Other areas were flattened to provide areas where towers, residences and the main keep could be built.

At the very top of Kasuga Mountain sat the main keep. From this vantage point Lords could see far and wide over the Jyoetsu Valley below them. The entire top of the mountain, along with many other areas on the mountain were flattened by sheer manpower using shovels and carts. It would have been magnificent to see the castle sitting up there... scroll down this page to see some images of what it might have looked like during the glory years of Kasugayama Castle.

Near the keep also sat the a famous Bishamondo Shrine where Kenshin Uesugi would pray to his main god Bishamonten, the Buddhist god of war, asking for power and victory over his foes. The location of the shrine is incredible. It sits on a ridge of Kasuga Mountain over-looking in the opposite direction of the Jyoetsu Valley out onto the forest and mountainous wilderness behind the castle. This shrine was a very sacred spot for Uesugi Kenshin who was a devout Buddhist.

Near the very top parking lot, which is about half-way up or half-way down the mountain, is the picturesque Kasugayama Shrine. This shrine is not ancient like the castle but was founded in 1901. This shrine was founded with the help of a famous Japanese children's stories author by the name of Mimei Ogawa who is considered to be Japan's "Founder of modern children's literature". Along with enshrining Uesugi Kenshin, other gods enshrined in the shrine are Sugawara No Michizane the God of Education and Daikoku a God of Business.

The statue shown on this page is an Uesugi Kenshin statue near Joetsumyoko Station. There is also another famous Uesugi Kenshin statue just near Kasugayama Shrine on Kasuga Mountain. Uesugi Kenshin is still highly revered by the people in the Jyoetsu valley and all of Japan and you will see flags, pictures, goods and even restaurants named after him and his legacy. Uesugi Kenshin is easily in the top five of most powerful Daimyo during the Sengoku Period if not one of the top three. He was very skilled in military strategy and instilling loyalty and self-worth into his men who would follow him anywhere.

To get to Kasugayama Castle you can walk from Kasugayama Station. It is quite a long, uphill walk and by the end of the day you may have walked 5 to 6 miles so be prepared for that. Other options would be a car rental or taxi's. The following numbers correspond to the numbers on the map graphic, 1.) The "Culture Center" (no website). Be sure to stop in there if it's open, the people inside are very happy to talk to you in English about Kasugayama Castle and give you all kinds of maps and pamphlets. Between 1 & 2 along the road there is a little Japanese Inn called Kasugayama Ryokan. If you plan on staying in the area longer than just a day you might want to consider staying at the Ryokan as it is very old, unique and interesting. 2.) is the upper-most parking lot. 3.) Uesugi Kenshin statue. 4.) San No Maru is a flat area where one of the main building stood. 5.) Hon Maru is the top of the mountain where the main keep stood. 6.) Bishamondo Shrine. 7.) the back entrance/trail that runs through a beautiful forest. 8.) Kasugayama Shrine.

Below is an alternate "top down" map. The "Picture" icon shows where the image in the previous graphic was taken from. Furthermore, here is a Google Walking Map from Kasugayama Station to the castle

The next two following pictures are "Fictional" images of how Kasugayama Castle might have looked during it's hey-day. The first image uses the exact same image at the very top of this page and then edited to add in various Japanese style castle structures.

The image below is a snap from Heaven and Earth (天と地と Ten to chi to) which is a 1990 Japanese film (on IMDb). The image showns Uesugi Kenshin (his back) with the main Kasugayama Keep in the background, addressing his men before they go marching off to stop Takeda Shingen from invading his territory.

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The 4th Battle of Kawanakajima

This information is placed on the Kasugayama Castle page because Kenshin Uesugi, the Daimyo of Echigo Provice, supposedly made a heroic and uplifting speech to his men at Kasugayama Castle and then departed from there to fight Takeda Shingen at the 4th Battle of Kawanakajima. The 4th Battle of Kawanakajima is one of the most famous Samurai Era battles in Japanese history.

4th Battle of Kawanakajima Background

Takeda Shingen was the Daimyo of Kai province, a land-locked province near Mt. Fuji. He had "Power Hungry" ambitions to control Etchigo to the north and Suruga, Sagami and Izu to the South which would give him sea ports to both the Sea of Japan and the Pacific ocean along with making him the most powerful lord in Japan. Etchigo was controlled by the Uesugi Clan under the Daimyo Uesugi Kenshin. Takeda Shingen threatened to invade Etchigo many times and a few skirmishes/small battles were fought between the Takeda and Uesugi clans.

In the late 1550's Takeda Shingen managed to make an alliance with the Hogo to the South East, therefore allowing him to concentrate on attacking Etchigo to the north. He slowly moved his army north, building the strength of his forces as he moved. During this time, Uesugi Kenshin was actually down in the Kanto Area trying to subdue the Hojo and gets news about the Takeda Clan's movements and must rush back to block the Takeda invation.

Uesugi Kenshin does a fast forced march with his army back to his main Kasugayama Castle. For reasons unknown (many speculations), Uesugi Kenshin decides to leave his secure castle and initialize the battle by rushing out to meet Takeda Shingen on the Kawanakajima Plain about 80 kilometers to the south of Kasugayama Castle. Most likely Uesugi Kenshin was just sick of Takeda Shingen trying to invade him all the time and wanted to deal with him once and for all. In early september of 1561, the famous 4th Battle of Kawanakajima took place.

Main Participants

Uesugi Army: 13,000 warriors (+5,000 left in reserves back at Zenko-ji Temple)

1. Uesugi Kenshin, Daimyo of Etchigo and leader of the Uesugi Clan. 31 years old.

Takeda Army: 20,000 warriors

1. Takeda Shingen - Daimyo of Kai Province and leader of the Takeda Clan. 41 years old.
2. Takeda Nobushige - Younger brother of Shingen and General under Lord Shingen for the Takeda army. 37 years old. Nobushige dies leading an attack trying to get to the main camp / main staging area where Kenshin is to try an kill him.
3. Yamamoto Kansuke - General under Lord Shingen and main military strategist for the Takeda army. Dies in battle.
4. Morozumi Bungo - General under Lord Shingen. Dies in battle.

Timeline

1561, Mid Summer: While down in Odawara subduing the Hojo Clan on the other side of Japan, Uesugi Kenshin hears that Takeda Shingen is up to his old tricks trying to move in on his territory. Uesugi Kenshin rushes back to Kasugayama Castle in Etchigo province, and prepares his army to move on Takeda Shingen before he can move on him first.

1561, Late Summer: Weeks before the battle

• 1 - With 18,000 warriors Uesugi Kenshin makes a lighting fast march to the Kawanakajima Plain area. He leaves 5,000 men at Zenko-ji temple and rushes down to take a position on top of Mt. Saijo with the other 12,000 men. Mt. Saijo over-looks Kaizu Castle where Takeda Shingen is held up.
• 2 - Uesugi Kenshin thinks Takeda Shingen and his main army are already in the castle but actually they weren't. Takeda Shingen and his main army manage to slip past Uesugi Kenshin's army on the mountain and into Kaizu Castle. Uesugi Kenshin actually missed a big opportunity to take Kaizu castle before the Takeda army arrived but for some reason he didn't recieve good intelligence.

Battle map of Kawanakajima Strategic Map. Numbers on the map correspond with text explanations below.

1561, September 9: Day before the battle

• Takeda Shingen is sitting safe and secure in Kaizu castle but for some reason, after waiting 15 days, he becomes anxious and decides he will leave Kaizu castle and initiate an attack on Uesugi Kenshin's army encamped up on Mt. Saijo.
• Yamamoto Kansuke, the military strategist and general for Takeda Shingen, comes up with the "Woodpecker Plan" as a plan of attack. 12,000 men will sneak up the east side of the mountain at night while 8,000 others will encamp at Hachimanbara on the Kawanakajima Plain north of the mountain across the river. In the early morning the 12,000 men that snuck up the mountain will attack Uesugi Kenshin and force his army down the mountain where the other 8,000 men will be waiting to attack from the other side.

1561, September 10: Day of the battle (Numbers before time indicate location on map above)

• 3 - 1:00 a.m. The 12,000 warrior force that is to sneak up Mt. Saijo moves out. Spies/Scouts sent up the mountain to check on the Uesugi army do not return and are suspected to have been killed by Uesugi guards.
• 4 - 2:00 a.m. Uesugi Kenshin's entire army sneaks down the mountain to take a new position across the river just west of wear Shingen was planning to set up his 8,000 man encampment. The Uesugi army leaves flags and fires burning to get the illusion that they are still encamped on the mountain.
• 5 - 3:00 a.m. Takeda Shingen's 8,000 strong Takeda main army heads to encamp at Hachimanbara on the Kawanakajima plain.
• 6 - 6:00 a.m. Even though the 12,000 man strong Takeda army should have attacked Kenshin by now, Spies/Scouts report no movement, activity or battle sounds coming from Mt. Saijo. Takeda Shingen and his generals figure that the general in charge of the mountain attack is waiting just a bit longer until the fog clears. Then... Takeda Shingen and his generals are in shocked. As the morning fog lifts, he sees Uesugi Kenshin's entire 13,000 man army marching toward his 8,000 man position.
• 7 - 6:10 a.m. Takeda Shingen orders musket fire so the 12,000 man army still stuck up on the hill will hear it and come rushing to help.
• 7 - 7:30 a.m. Uesugi Kenshin himself makes a gutsy and bold move with his guard to directly hunt and find Takeda Shingen's base camp to try to kill him himself.
• 7 - 8:00 a.m. The Takeda army manages to re-group and get into a more solid formation after the surprise attack from the Uesugi army.
• 8 - 9:00 a.m. The 12,000 man Takeda army makes it to the river and engages with the Uesugi blocking the other side. At around 9:30 they make it to the main battle and start reinforcing Takeda Shingen's force.
• 9 - 10:00 a.m. Now that the Takeda army has been reinforced, it's pretty much an even battle and both sides are getting nowhere. Uesugi Kenshin decides to temporarily retreat to Zenko-ji Temple. The Takeda army gives a half-hearted pursuit but everyone battle-weary and the numbers are pretty even with no clear winner. Uesugi Kenshin decides he's had enough and orders his army to retreat back to Etchigo. The Uesugi army figures it took the heads of 3 of the main generals of the Takeda army so they declare a victory but Takeda Shingen successfully defended his territory so he declares victory.

4th Battle of Kawanakajima Summary

Final Thoughts

Takeda Shingen's goal was to invade and conquer Etchigo Province, the homeland of the Uesugi Clan. Uesugi Kenshin stopped Shingen from entering his lands AND inflicted great damage upon Shingen's army. Although the loses were about the same and there was no real clear winner on the field of battle, Kenshin met his goals and therefore won a Strategic Victory.

Battle of Kawanakajima Other References

1. Movie (Japanese with English Sub-Titles)川中島の戦い - The 4th Battle of Kawanakajima - Historical Documentary Drama. This movie is a bit slow but great acting and story.
2. Looking toward Saijo Mountain from Kaizu Castle: Uesugi Kenshin and his army were entrenched up there Google Map Street View
3. Kawanakajima Battleground: Park and Museum Google Map
4. Uesugi Kenshin on Wikipedia
5. Takeda Shingen on Wikipedia
6. Battle of Kawanakajima on Wikipedia

Please visit our Japanese Castles page to find more castles around Japan.

 

Access

Closest Train Station: Kasugayama

Joetsu, Nakayashiki, Niigata 943-0819 Japan

The closest Shinkansen (Bullet Train) station is Joestumyoko on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. From Tokyo it takes about 2 hours to get to Joetsumyoko Station. From Jyoestumyoko Station you need to change to the the Myoko-Haneuma Line, Myoko-Haneuma trains only leave once an hour or so. From Jyoestumyoko it's 3 stops to Kasugayama Station (about 15 min).

Google Map

 

Hotels & Lodging

View a full list of Hotels and Lodging in or nearby Kasugayama Castle.

 

Hours & Fees

Hours: Always open

Closed: No closing days

Cost: Free

Information presented is based on the time it was created. There may be changes since publication. Please confirm information by contacting the attraction before visiting.