Toishi Castle is constructed on a ridge extending out from Mt. Higashitaroyama. It's one vast compound castle, made of four small castles called Komeyama-jo, Toishi-jo, Hon-jo and Masugata-jo concentrated around the main Hon-jo area. Even though they're often called four castles you could also think of them like 4 baileys at other castles.
The early history of Toishi Castle is not clear. It's attributed to either the Murakami or Sanada, but most likely the Murakami. Around 1468 Murakami Masakiyo made incursions into the Chiisagata area (modern day Ueda) and likely built out the mountaintop fortification here. If you were to visit the area you would see that the Taroyama mountains dominate the horizon around Ueda. This ridge was is an ideal location that splits the modern day Ueda Station and Ueda Castle area from the Sanada area claimed as the home of the Sanada clan. Around 1532-1555, Murakami Yoshikiyo further built out and renovated much of the castle.
In 1550, Toishi Castle became famous as the biggest loss in Takeda Shingen's career. Earlier in the year, Shingen defeated the Ogasawara (see Hayashikojo Castle) extending his reach into the Shinano region and leaving the Murakami as the last major holdout. Shingen had actually lost another major battle to Murakami, the Battle of Uedahara, 2 years earlier so he was looking to take revenge on Murakami's home fortress with overwhelming might. Shingen attacked Toishi Castle with 7000 soldiers against the castle's 500 defenders. On August 29th, Shingen surrounded the castle and began his attack on September 9th. The steep sides and tenacity of the Murakami defended held off Shingen until September 23rd when a reinforcement army of 4000 suddenly appeared at his back. Murakami had escaped Shingen's blockade and brought his main forces to Shingen's back. Shingen still fought on until October 1st when they withdrew and escaped back to Suwa. Shingen suffered heavy casualties including the loss of one of his generals, Yokota Takatoshi. This battle is often known as Toishi Kuzure (砥石崩れ).
Takeda Shingen commanded Sanada Yukitaka to take the castle in 1551. Yukitaka was able to get someone on the inside to betray Murakami and opened the castle to him. Thereafter the Sanada controlled Toishi Castle where it played an important role in the battles of Ueda Castle.
The castle is well sign posted, well maintained, photogenic and easy to navigate. It is highly recommended for all mountain castle fans, but you should visit between the late fall and early spring before it is overgrown with weeds and foliage.
|Komeyama-jo, Toishi Komeyama-jo, Honjo, Masugata-jo
|mid 15th C.
|Prefectural Historic Site
|Pre Edo Period
|trenches, stone walls
|Ueda Sta. 15 min bus, walk 5 mins
|mountain park, open any time
|Ueda, Nagano Prefecture
|36° 25' 36.23" N, 138° 17' 27.96" E
|Added to Jcastle
|Admin Year Visited
|March 31, 2016
Ngome ya Toishi imejengwa juu ya kilele kinachoanzia Mlima Mt. Higashitaroyama. Hifadhi hiyo ni jengo la kifalme lenye majengo manne madogo, yaani, Komeyama, Toyozawa, Honjo na Masugata, ambayo yanazunguka eneo kuu la Honjo. "Hata hivyo, kama kuna ""mashimo"" ya ngome nne, unaweza kuwa na ""mashimo"" ya ngome nne." Historia ya mapema ya Ngome ya Toishi haijulikani wazi. Inajulikana kama Murakami au Sanada, lakini inawezekana zaidi ni Murakami. Mwaka 1468 Murakami Masakiyo aliingia katika eneo la Chiyoda na kuanzisha ngome ya juu ya mlima. Ikiwa ungependa kutembelea eneo hilo ungeona kwamba milima ya Taroyama inatawala upeo wa macho kuzunguka Ueda. Mwamba huu ulikuwa ni eneo bora ambalo linagawanya kituo cha kisasa cha Ueda na eneo la Ngome ya Ueda kutoka eneo la Sanada linalodaiwa kuwa nyumbani kwa ukoo wa Sanada. Karibu na 1532-1555, Murakami Yoshikiyo aliendelea kujenga na kurekebisha sehemu kubwa ya ngome. Katika mwaka wa 1550, Toyoshi Castle ilijulikana kama hasara kubwa zaidi katika kazi ya Takeda Shingen. Mapema mwaka huo, Shingen alishinda Ogasawara (tazama Ngome ya Hayashikojo) kupanua ufikiaji wake katika mkoa wa Shinano na kuacha Murakami kama ngome kuu ya mwisho. Shingen alikuwa amepoteza vita vya Uedahara na Murakami miaka miwili iliyopita, na alikuwa na nia ya kulipiza kisasi kwa nguvu kubwa. Shingen aliishambulia Toyoshi Castle na askari 7000 dhidi ya walinzi 500 wa ngome. Mnamo Agosti 29, Shingen alizunguka ngome na kuanza shambulio lake Septemba 9. Kwa sababu ya upinzani wa Murakami, Shingen alishindwa mpaka Septemba 23, wakati jeshi la kuimarisha la watu elfu nne lilipotokea ghafla. Murakami alikuwa ameponyoka kizuizi cha Shingen na kuleta majeshi yake makuu nyuma ya Shingen. Shingen bado walipigana hadi Oktoba 1 walipokuwa wakijiondoa na kutoroka kurudi Suwa. Shingen alipata hasara kubwa ikiwa ni pamoja na kupoteza mmoja wa majenerali wake, Yokota Takatoshi. Mapigano haya mara nyingi hujulikana kama Toishi Kuzure (砥石崩れ). Takeda Shingen aliamuru Sanada Yukitaka kuchukua ngome hiyo mwaka 1551. Yukitaka aliweza kupata mtu wa ndani kumsaliti Murakami na kumfungulia ngome. Baada ya hapo Sanada alidhibiti Toishi Castle ambapo ilicheza jukumu muhimu katika mapigano ya Ueda Castle. Ngome ni vizuri ishara posted, vizuri kudumishwa, photogenic na rahisi kusafiri. Ni bora kwa mashabiki wote wa ngome ya mlima, lakini unapaswa kutembelea kati ya mwishoni mwa vuli na mapema spring kabla ya kukua na magugu na majani. Mji wa Komeyama, Honjo, Masugata, na Jiji la Toyoyama, Jiji la Toyoyama, Jiji la Toyoyama, Jiji la Toyoyama, Jiji la Toyoyama, Jiji la Toyoyama, Jiji la Toyoyama, Jiji la Toyoyama "Kama ""Mashabiki"" wa Jumba la Maonyesho la Jumba la Maonyesho la Jumba la Maonyesho la Jumba la Maonyesho la Jumba la Maonyesho la Jumba la Maonyesho la Jumba la Maonyesho la Jumba la Maonyesho la Jumba la Maonyesho la Jumba la Maonyesho la Jumba la Maonyesho la Jumba la Maonyesho la Jumba la Maonyesho."