Castles of Nara
Uda Matsuyama Castle
History of Uda Matsuyama Castle
Uda Matsuyama Castle was built around the middle of the 14th century by the Akiyama clan, one of the three generals in Uda. Located on top of a 473-meter (roughly 1,551 feet)-high mountain, the castle’s remains reveal the existence of a castle tower. The castle was located in an ideal location overlooking the eastern part of the province, and together with Koriyama Castle and Takatori Castle, it played a key role in the control of Yamato Province under the Toyotomi administration. The lord of the castle changed frequently over a short period of time, but decorative ridge-end tiles bearing the family crest of the Taga clan have been excavated here, suggesting that the castle was extensively renovated during the reign of Taga Hidetane, who held the castle for eight years.
Eventually the castle, which had belonged to the Toyotomi daimyo, came into possession of the Tokugawa daimyo, and was renamed Matsuyama Castle during the reign of castle lord Fukushima Takaharu. However, the castle was demolished in 1615, when Takaharu was stripped of his samurai status and had his fiefdom confiscated on suspicion of having been in league with the Toyotomi clan during the summer campaign of the Siege of Osaka.
Today, only part of the castle’s stone walls remain, but recent excavations have revealed the structure of the main enclosure residence, and work is underway to determine the structure of the castle tower. In 2006, the castle was designated as a National Historic Site (designated name: Site of Uda Matsuyama Castle) in recognition of its importance as a castle fortress from the Middle Ages to the Early Modern period. In 2017, it was also selected as one of the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles by the Japan Castle Foundation.
Uda Matsuyama Castle: Timeline of Key Events
- Middle of the 14th century
- The Akiyama clan builds Uda Matsuyama Castle
- 1592
- Taga Hidetane becomes lord of the castle
- 1600
- Fukushima Takaharu becomes lord of the castle
- 1615
- The castle is demolished
- 2006
- Designated as a National Historic Site
- 2017
- Selected as one of the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles
Uda Matsuyama Castle Trivia
Discovery of a letter mentioning the demolition of Uda Matsuyama Castle
In 1997, a letter in the handwriting of Kobori Enshu, lord of the Omi Komuro domain who demolished Uda Matsuyama Castle, was discovered in Tokyo. The letter, which mentions how there is a shortage of laborers to tear down the castle and asks for help, is a very valuable document which gives an insight into the circumstances behind the castle’s demolition at the time. Since Enshu was born in Nagahama, the letter is housed in the Nagahama Castle Historical Museum.
Legend of a mysterious secret passage
At Kasuga-jinja Shrine, located at the foot of Uda Matsuyama Castle, there is a man-made hole in the stone wall behind the shrine’s chozuya (structure at the entrance where people wash their hands with water to purify themselves before entering the shrine). Although written records make no mention of this hole, local legend has it that it is a secret passage leading from the castle tower of Uda Matsuyama Castle, and was used by the lord of the castle in times of emergency.
Highlights of Uda Matsuyama Castle
Spectacular view from the castle tower
The view from the stonewall foundation of the tower of Uda Matsuyama Castle is exceptional. To the south you can see the mountains of Yoshino and Omine, and to the north Yamato Fuji (Mt. Nukai). You can also enjoy a panoramic view of the castle town that remains even to this day. From this vantage point, it is easy to see just how the Akiyama clan, who built the castle, chose the ideal location for ruling over Yamato Province. In 2011, the site was registered as Nara Landscape Heritage under the name of “Site of Uda Matsuyama Castle with a view of the Omine Mountains”.
Two routes to the castle site
The most common way to reach the Site of Uda Matsuyama Castle is to climb up from the road where the former site of the Kasuga Gate is located (old highway). However, there is also a well-maintained route up from behind the Machizukuri Center (Sengensha). In either case, it takes only around a ten-minute walk from the foot of the mountain to the top of the castle. It may be interesting to use different routes on the way to and from the top.
What does Uda Matsuyama Castle Mean to the Local Community?
Uda Matsuyama Castle as a local symbol
At one time, Uda Matsuyama Castle commanded a panoramic view of the entire castle town, and the castle could be seen from almost every location in the castle town. Today, while only the former site of the castle remains, people in the Ouda area maintain a strong awareness that they inhabit a castle town, and Uda Matsuyama Castle has become a symbol of the area. It is also used as a place for local elementary and junior high school students to learn about their hometown by actually climbing up to the site of the castle and learning about its history.
Events Related to Uda Matsuyama Castle
At the Site of Uda Matsuyama Castle, the mountain on which the castle stands is illuminated at the same time as the light up of the streets of the castle town (Uda Matsuyama).
The area around the castle’s main enclosure and castle tower are illuminated, and the top of the castle site can be seen from the foot of the mountain.
