A leisurely, unplanned trip by local train. I had some free time during my transfer at Nakatsugawa Station, so I looked up what I could do and found Naegi Castle Ruins sounded quite interesting. So, I rented a car from a car-sharing service and headed straight there.
The place my navigation system guided me to when I set “Naegi Castle Ruins” was a former railway bridge site with no parking. However, there were actually signs for “Naegi Castle Ruins” along the way, and a short walk from where I parked, there was a mountain path that seemed to lead to the castle ruins. So, even though it felt a bit odd, I figured it couldn’t be entirely wrong and decided to follow the signs.
This winding path is called “Shihachimagari-michi” (The 48 Bends Path). It was the route to the main keep from the Otemon (main gate) at the foot of the castle mountain, a steep climb of about 600 meters with an altitude difference of approximately 150 meters. Apparently, this path was used by the feudal lord during his sankin-kotai (alternate attendance system), and it’s quite a challenging route, named for the 48 bends it takes to reach the main keep. However, along the way, there were castle ruins and stone walls, characteristic of a mountain castle, which made the climb enjoyable in its own way.
Later, when I checked Nakatsugawa City’s tourist information page, it said the following, indicating there’s an easier approach by car:
(Note) If you are using a car navigation system, please set your destination to ‘Naegi Toyama Historical Museum’.
The first thing that catches your eye after the climb is the Ohyagura-ato (Great Turret Ruins). Perhaps because there was no one else around, it stood majestically, built high with stone walls, and apparently, a large three-story turret once stood atop it. It’s easy to see why it’s called “Japan’s Machu Picchu” from its appearance.
It’s truly astonishing how they managed to construct these stone walls, integrating natural boulders into such a steep location. It makes perfect sense why mountain castle enthusiasts would want to visit this castle.
An observation deck has been built at the main keep ruins, allowing for a panoramic 360-degree view. Unfortunately, Mount Ena was covered in clouds that day, so I couldn’t see its full splendor, but it was still a magnificent view.
Since I had left my car, of course, I had to take the 48 Bends Path on the way down too… I think it would be a perfectly fine mountain path if it weren’t for this heat, but the heat really got to me.
コメント