Hachigata Castle Park

Overview

Hachigata Castle Park in Yorii-machi, Saitama Prefecture, is a park built on the site of a Sengoku period castle. Legend says that Hachigata Castle was constructed in 1476 (Bunmei 8) by Nagaoka Kageharu, a retainer of the Yamanouchi Uesugi clan, who held the position of Kanto Kanrei (Kanto Governor-General). Later, it was expanded and improved by Ujikuni Hojo, the fourth son of Hojo Ujiyasu of Odawara, who married into the influential Fujita family in the region. This led to the castle's current size. Hachigata Castle, one of the largest in the Kanto region, played a crucial role in controlling northern Kanto and defending against invasions from Kai and Shinano provinces. During Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Odawara campaign in 1590 (Tensho 18), it served as an important strategic stronghold for the Hojo clan. It was besieged by the northern army, led by Maeda Toshiie and Uesugi Kageshige, and endured a prolonged siege. After over a month of intense fighting, Hojo Ujikuni surrendered on June 14th, securing the lives of his soldiers. After the surrender, with the Tokugawa clan's entry into Kanto, Naruse Masakazu and Kusakabe Sadayoshi, under Ieyasu's command, governed the area. Today, the site has been developed into a park, preserving the moats, earthen ramparts, and other remnants of the castle. The park also boasts abundant natural beauty, including the valley carved by the Fukazawa River and a katakuri (dog-tooth violet) colony, offering stunning seasonal landscapes. Hachigata Castle Park is a highly recommended sightseeing spot where you can enjoy both history and nature.