As I’ve traveled around Japan, I have found a number of places referred to as “ruins”. Castle ruins, temple ruins and palace ruins are scattered all across Japan. The idea of ruins here though, are a bit different than what you might find in Europe or elsewhere. I know when I first visited Oba Castle Ruins Park, or Obajoshikoen, I expected more in the way of ruins. I thought I would find old walls or foundations of buildings. This is what I always saw in pictures and documentaries about ancient ruins elsewhere in the world. Obajoshi park, however, had none of that. The park is a great, well groomed green space with a small welcome center and numerous cherry trees all across the top of the hill. However, if I didn’t know the history of the place, I would have never guessed it at one point a castle. There are no structures of any kind from the castle and many of the significant earthworks have been plowed under by centuries of farming. And this is how many of the ruins are throughout Japan. So, in this photo series, let’s take a look at some of the Japanese ruins found in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
The re-created foundation of the great seven story pagoda of the Sagami Kokubun-ji, or provincial temple. These temples were the religious and Imperial center of the early Japanese provinces. In the late 9th century, a fire ravaged destroyed the complex, the grand temple was rebuilt, but it never fully recovered. By the 13th or 14th century, the temple was abandoned. Several attempts to re-establish Sagami Kokubun-ji throughout the following centuries failed until the early 18th century, when a new Provincial Temple was built nearby, which still exists today and retains the Kokubun-ji name.
The rise in this green field marks the foundation of the Kondo, or Buddha Hall of the Sagami Kokubun-Ji in Ebina city. Recent archaeology has found the remains of the ancient temple, but the location of the actual provincial capital haven’t been found.
The path leading to Obajoshikoen, or Oba Castle Ruin Park. The remains of the castle in the park consist entirely of limited earthen works and recent archaeology.
One of the baileys of Oba Castle. Today, the park is full of cherry trees and is a popular location for hanami, or cherry blossom viewing parties.
Stone markers show the layout of post-holes that once made up a building. Beyond the markers, no buildings or structures remain on the site.
A path winds along the earthworks of Kawamura Castle in Yamakita, Kanagawa Prefecture. Kawamura was an ancient fortification, but the steep embankments visible today are typical of mountain defenses built by the Later Hojo from Odawara, who controlled the area through the Sengoku Period.
One of the baileys of Kawamura Castle. The park is in a similar state to Oba Castle Ruin Park in that all that remains of the castle is earthen-works and archaeology. Kawamura Castle Park, however, is not nearly as well groomed. and the hike to the top of the castle hill is not easy.
A bridge over the earthworks and moats of Kawamura Castle, connecting two of the primary baileys. Kawamura Castle is one of the best preserved examples of the Later Hojo defensive earthworks still existing in Japan.
The inner Bailey of Hayakawa Castle, today known as Shiroyama (castle hill) Park. Little is known about the castle, and until recent excavations, there were no records of any castle on the site – only local folklore.
A moat around Hayakawa Castle – modern Shiroyama Park. Like with Kawamura Castle and Obajoshi Park, earthworks and archaeology are all that remain of Hayakawa Castle.