Exploring a beautiful square-moated castle ruin with subtle architectural beauty

4.0
旅行時期：2025/09（約4ヶ月前）

by Cyberさん（男性）

丹波篠山クチコミ：2件

上空から見ると堀の形がほぼ正方形、という堀の造形が非常に美しいことで有名な城址である。平山城ではあるが、周辺との高低差はほぼ皆無に等しい平城のようなもので、堀にはなみなみと水が湛えられている。堀の周囲にしろ石垣の上にしろ、転落防止の柵は無いかあるいは低い柵しかない場合があるため、城址の散策中は充分に注意したい。
明治時代の廃城令により城は破却されたものの、前述の堀以外にも石垣が遺構として残されている。石垣は、大阪城や熊本城等で見られるような、隙間なく整然と石が詰まれたものではないが、それでも遠目で見ると石垣全体として整っており、美しい造形を見せている。
大書院を含めても、1〜2時間程度で散策できると思う。ほとんどの展示物は日本語のみで書かれていることもあり、海外からの観光客からするとやや退屈に思うかもしれないが、日本の城跡好きであれば、（少なくとも城址内には）余計とも思える観光スポットが無いからこそ、遺構を様々な確度で観察することに時間を費やせることが出来るかもしれない。天守台の高さも堀から20mも無く、登りやすいこともこの城の魅力の一つだと思う。
堀の内側に小学校があるのは非常に珍しい。当然、小学校敷地内への（観光客含む）関係者以外の立ち入りは厳しく制限されているため、天守等から小学校敷地への落とし物等には充分に注意したい。

This castle ruin is renowned for the beauty of its moat, which forms an almost perfect square when viewed from above. Although classified as a hirayamajiro (a castle built on slightly elevated ground), the terrain around it's nearly flat, giving it the appearance of a hirajiro (flatland castle). The moat remains filled with water. Visitors should take care when walking around the site, as there are few safety fences along the moat and stone walls - some areas have none or only low barriers.
The castle itself was dismantled following the Meiji government's Haijorei (Castle Abolition Order), yet several features such as the moat and sections of the stone walls still remain. Unlike the precisely fitted stones of Osaka Castle or Kumamoto Castle, these walls were built with more irregular stones; however, when viewed from a distance, their overall structure retains an elegant and harmonious appearance.
Exploring the grounds, including the reconstructed Oshoin (main hall), typically takes about one to two hours. Most of the informational displays are written only in Japanese, so international visitors might find the exhibits somewhat difficult to follow. Nevertheless, for those interested in Japanese castle architecture and history, this simplicity can be refreshing - there are few unnecessary tourist distractions, allowing more time to observe and appreciate the remaining structures from various angles.
The tenshudai (main keep foundation) rises less than 20 meters above the moat, making it relatively easy to climb compared to many other castles. This accessibility is one of the site’s understated charms.
An unusual feature of this castle ruin is that an elementary school stands within the inner moat area. Naturally, entry into the school grounds is strictly prohibited to all non-affiliated visitors, so please be careful not to drop personal belongings from elevated areas such as the tenshudai.