CastleHilltop castle (hirayamajiro)Next 100 Fine Castles No. 142
What makes this castle distinctive
A small hill ringed by rice fields is split clean in two, east and west, by a giant trench.
Why?
Furumiya was built by Takeda Shingen on the border between his lands and the Tokugawa's. Across the middle of a lone hill about 200 m by 150 m, a huge trench was dug running north–south, splitting the hill in two, and the halves are linked by a single earthen bridge. The surrounding rice fields are what remains of the marsh that once protected the castle.[1][2]
Three things not to miss
01
The great trench and the single earthen bridge
Where
The center of the castle, between the east and west halves of the hill
What to look at
The deep trench running north–south, and the one earthen bridge that crosses it
Why it's interesting
Even if attackers took the west hill, the east hill across the trench stands a level higher, so defenders could strike from its earthen walls. The city explains that the only way to the center was a single path past the earthen bridge, a turret base and a gateway, under fire from above the whole way.[1][2]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideVisible from the visitor paths. Do not leave the paths.
The double-sided square gateway of the main bailey
Where
The main entrance to the main bailey on the east hill, just up the steps beside Shiratori Shrine
What to look at
A square entrance with earthen walls on both sides set back into the bailey (ryosode masugata), and a path inside that bends twice
Why it's interesting
The shape held attackers in front of the gate where they could be hit from the front and sides. This kind of gateway is common at Takeda castles of the Warring States period, which makes it one of Furumiya's highlights.[1][2]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideVisible from the visitor paths.
The maze-like route and round barbican of the west hill
Where
The west hill
What to look at
A path that zigzags about three times between earthen walls and moats, and the bailey surrounded by side moats on the west hill, which works as a round barbican (maru-umadashi)
Why it's interesting
The route makes attackers walk along the tops of earthen walls with nowhere to hide. The city also points out that Furumiya combines features long thought typical of either the Tokugawa or the Takeda side, such as round barbicans, double-sided square gateways and side moats.[1][2]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideVisible from the visitor paths.
At a glance for visitors
Nearest station
from JR Shinshiro Station (by bus)
Climb
Some climbing
Time neededEditors' estimate
About an hour to walk around the site.
Admission
Free
Hours
10:00–15:00
Access
Partly open
Most of the site is private land that landowners allow visitors to explore. Always enter and leave via Shiratori Shrine, stay on the paths, and never cut through private yards. The Continued Top 100 Castles stamp is not at the site but at the Tsukude History and Folk Museum.
Furumiya stands on Miyayama, a lone hill in the middle of the Tsukude highland, about 535 m above sea level, in the northwest of Shinshiro City. On every side except the west, the hill was surrounded by peat marsh, a natural defense. Several other castle sites linked to the Okudaira and Takeda families lie nearby.[1]
02
Scholarly interpretation
Built by Takeda Shingen on the frontier
In 1572 Okudaira Sadayoshi, the local lord, received Takeda Shingen's promise to confirm his lands, and the castle is thought to have been built by Shingen after that. Tradition credits its layout to Baba Nobuharu, a senior Takeda general. It was an important Takeda base on the border with Tokugawa territory.[2][1]
03
Tradition
The Okudaira defection and the Battle of Furumiya
After Shingen died in 1573, Okudaira Sadayoshi and his son Nobumasa secretly sided with Tokugawa Ieyasu, left their home castle of Kameyama and broke away from the Takeda. While the Takeda army chased them, Tokugawa troops who had come to help the Okudaira attacked the weakly guarded Furumiya, and tradition says the Takeda garrison burned the castle and fled.[2][1]
04
Scholarly interpretation
Its role ends after Nagashino
A record from 1575 suggests the castle was still in use then. But that same year Takeda Katsuyori was defeated by the Oda–Tokugawa allies at the Battle of Nagashino and Shitaragahara, Tokugawa control of the area tightened, and Furumiya seems to have gradually lost its role as a Takeda base. Exactly when it was abandoned is not clear.[2][1]
05
Historical record
An almost intact earthwork castle, cared for by locals
The site is woodland that has not been landscaped as a park, and it has never been excavated. Even so, because local people have looked after it, its Warring States earthworks, such as earthen walls and moats, survive almost completely. It was chosen as a Continued Top 100 Japanese Castle in 2017 and designated a Shinshiro City Historic Site in 2018. Most of the land is privately owned, and visitors may explore it thanks to the landowners' goodwill.[1][2]
Shinshiro City Historic Site (Furumiya Castle ruins) (2018)Editorial article
Selection
Next 100 Fine Castles No. 142Japan Castle Foundation
Visiting
Access
Partly open
Most of the site is private land that landowners allow visitors to explore. Always enter and leave via Shiratori Shrine, stay on the paths, and never cut through private yards. The Continued Top 100 Castles stamp is not at the site but at the Tsukude History and Folk Museum.
Address
Miyayama, Tsukude Kiyotake, Shinshiro, Aichi (the hill with Shiratori Shrine)[1]
Checked: 2026-10-03
Nearest stations and how to get there
JR Shinshiro Station (by bus)JR Iida Line
Some climbing
According to the city's 2019 leaflet, take the city bus Tsukude Takasato line from Shinshiro Sakaemachi to Kamogayaguchi, then walk about 10 minutes. There is no railway in Tsukude, and route names and times may have changed, so check before you go.[2][3]
Checked: 2026-10-03
Hours and admission
Tsukude History and Folk Museum (Continued Top 100 Castles stamp)
Hours
10:00–15:00
Closed
Tuesdays (the next weekday if Tuesday is a holiday; open during the summer school holidays), December 29 – January 3
Free local museum that keeps the Continued Top 100 Castles stamp and introduces Tsukude's history and nature, including a model of Kameyama Castle, the Okudaira family's seat. Based on the city's map locations, it is about 650 m northwest of Furumiya in a straight line.[3][1]
Checked: 2026-10-03
Editors' guide
An editorial guide based on sources and confirmed information — not a first-hand visit report.
Who will enjoy it
Good for fans of Takeda castle design, anyone who wants to feel how a castle built only of earthen walls and moats defended itself, and those who like quiet hillside castle sites.
What makes it interesting
First take in the depth of the great trench and notice that the east hill sits a level higher than the west. Then walk through the double-sided square gateway and the zigzag route on the west hill, and you will start to see where attackers would have been shot at.
Before you go
Most of the site is private land open thanks to its owners. Enter and leave via Shiratori Shrine and stay off private property and off-path areas. The site is not a developed park, and we could not confirm whether there are toilets. The stamp is at the Tsukude History and Folk Museum (closed Tuesdays).
Ways to enjoy it
The city describes the west hill as a maze that forced attackers into a single file where arrows could reach them from every side. Follow the paths as if you were the attacker, and the defensive tricks become clear.
Photos
Visitor reviews
Be the first to review
Have you visited this castle? We'd love to hear from you.
Write a review
Open questions
The Japan Castle Foundation lists the founding year as 1571, while Shinshiro City says around or after 1572.
Baba Nobuharu's role as designer and the details of the Battle of Furumiya rest on tradition and inference.
One theory says the castle was abandoned after the 1573 battle; another view holds it was still in use around 1575.
Current bus routes and times, toilets, accessibility and English guidance could not be confirmed.
