The History of Yamakami Castle
During the medieval period, this area was known as Yamakami Estate. The Yamakami clan, said to have descended from the influential warrior Fujiwara Hidesato, established its base here during the Kamakura period.
Historical records describe a battle in the Yamakami area around the middle of the 15th century, suggesting that a castle may already have existed by this time.
A Castle Caught in the Sengoku Struggles
During the Sengoku period, Yamakami Castle became involved in the conflicts among powerful warlords competing for control of the Kanto region. The castle’s history was connected with the movements of the Later Hojo, Uesugi, and Takeda clans.
During the Eiroku era, the Yamakami clan is said to have been driven out by the Later Hojo clan. The castle subsequently came under the influence of Uesugi Kenshin.
After the fall of Odawara Castle in 1590, which marked the defeat of the Later Hojo regime, Yamakami Castle lost its military role and was abandoned.
The ruins are now protected as a Gunma Prefectural Historic Site. Place names such as Motomachi and Kajiya, meaning roughly “former town” and “blacksmith,” also remain in the surrounding area and offer clues to the region’s historical development.
A Park Where History and Recreation Come Together
Today, Yamakami Castle Ruins Park covers approximately 43,000 square meters. The grounds include open lawns, playground equipment, landscaped gardens, and walking paths.
Children particularly enjoy the playgrounds, which make use of the natural differences in elevation. Facilities include a roller slide and rope-climbing equipment, while wooden athletic structures and a long slide allow children to enjoy the hillside itself.
The park also features a landscaped area with a drum-shaped arched bridge and waterfall. Places that once served military purposes have been transformed into spaces where families and visitors of different generations can relax.
The former dry moat is another good example of this transformation. Once part of the castle’s defensive system, it is now incorporated into the walking paths, allowing visitors to explore the site in a peaceful setting.
Seasonal Flowers at Yamakami Castle Ruins Park
Yamakami Castle Ruins Park is also known for its flowers. From winter through early summer, different plants bloom across the grounds, adding color to the historic landscape.
Winter Scenery with Wintersweet and Camellias
From late January through late February, wintersweet comes into bloom. Its small yellow flowers appear before the leaves and release a sweet fragrance into the winter air.
The petals have a delicate, wax-like appearance, which is particularly striking against the clear winter sky. When flowers appear alongside snow, the combination creates a quiet and refined landscape.
Camellias also add color during the colder months. Visitors can see different varieties, including single and double flowers in shades of red, white, and pink. They provide a welcome splash of color during winter walks through the park.
A Hydrangea Walk in Early Summer
From approximately mid-June to mid-July, hydrangeas reach their peak. Hydrangeas and lacecap hydrangeas are planted around the former dry moat, where their flowers create a beautiful corridor during Japan’s rainy season.
The flowers’ soft colors complement the surrounding greenery and the historic earthworks. The transformation of a former defensive moat into a flower-lined walking route is one of the most distinctive features of the park.
For visitors interested in Japanese seasonal scenery, the hydrangea season offers an especially atmospheric way to explore the castle ruins.
Niisato Local Culture Preservation and Training Center
Within the park stands the Niisato Local Culture Preservation and Training Center. Its calm exterior and traditional tiled roof give it a distinctive appearance within the park.
The facility is used for various classes as well as exhibitions of photographs, paintings, and other works created by local residents. It serves as a place where people can learn about and preserve the history and culture of the Niisato area.
For visitors, the center adds a cultural dimension to the castle ruins, providing another way to understand the community that has developed around this historic landscape.
Yamakami Pagoda: A Stone Monument with 1,200 Years of History
Another important historical attraction can be found near the former Yamakami Castle site: the Yamakami Multiple-Story Pagoda.
This stone Buddhist memorial monument was erected in 801, during the early Heian period, and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Standing approximately 1.85 meters high, it consists of a finial, roof sections, a tower body, and a foundation stone.
An Inscription Reflecting Ancient Buddhist Faith
An inscription is carved into the body of the monument, together with traces of red pigment. The inscription indicates that Buddhist scriptures were enshrined within the monument and that it was built with prayers for the well-being of the imperial court, Shinto deities, parents, and all living beings.
As an early stone monument associated with the preservation of Buddhist scriptures, it is considered a particularly valuable example of Japan’s ancient religious heritage.
The pagoda is now protected inside a small shelter and can be viewed from outside. Visitors exploring Yamakami Castle Ruins Park can combine the castle ruins with this much older monument to experience more than a thousand years of history in the same area.
Zen Castle Ruins: Another Sengoku Site Nearby
Another historic castle site in the surrounding area is Zen Castle, located in what is now Kasukawa-cho, Maebashi City. Built during the Muromachi and Sengoku periods, the site is also protected as a Gunma Prefectural Historic Site.
Zen Castle was constructed on a hill using the Usagi River and its tributaries as natural moats. The castle covered approximately 250 meters from east to west and 500 meters from north to south.
During the Sengoku period, the castle became involved in conflicts among the Uesugi, Takeda, and Later Hojo clans. It is particularly associated with a fierce attack known as the “bare-handed assault on Zen Castle”, during which the castle is said to have fallen.
Today, the Honmaru and Ninomaru areas have been preserved as a castle ruins park, and the Kasukawa History and Folklore Museum stands nearby. Visiting Zen Castle together with Yamakami Castle provides a broader perspective on the turbulent history that unfolded along the southern foothills of Mount Akagi.
A Journey Through History and Nature
Yamakami Castle Ruins Park brings together several different layers of Japanese history. The remains of a Sengoku-period hilltop castle, an ancient stone Buddhist monument, seasonal flowers, and modern recreational facilities all exist within the same landscape.
Walking through the park allows visitors to follow the traces of the former castle, observe the old dry moats, enjoy seasonal flowers, and learn about the area’s local culture. The contrast between the military landscape of the past and the peaceful park of today is particularly interesting.
The site is also appealing to families. Children can enjoy the playgrounds and natural terrain while adults explore the historic remains and cultural facilities. During winter and spring, the flowers provide an additional reason to visit, while the hydrangeas of early summer create a particularly beautiful atmosphere around the old moats.
A Historic Hilltop Park in the Kiryu and Niisato Area
Yamakami Castle Ruins Park is a place where Sengoku history, ancient Buddhist heritage, seasonal flowers, and everyday recreation come together.
Rather than simply viewing castle ruins from a distance, visitors can walk through the former castle grounds and experience the landscape itself. The remaining earthworks and dry moats provide clues to the castle’s defensive design, while the surrounding flowers and greenery create a peaceful modern setting.
Adding the nearby Yamakami Multiple-Story Pagoda to a visit makes it possible to encounter traces of religious history dating back to the early Heian period as well. Together, these sites reveal how the landscape of Niisato has been shaped by more than a thousand years of history.
For travelers exploring Kiryu and the southern foothills of Mount Akagi, Yamakami Castle Ruins Park offers a rewarding combination of history, nature, and relaxation. Take a leisurely walk through the former castle grounds, enjoy the flowers in season, and imagine the dramatic events that once unfolded on this quiet hill.