Kagomori Castle

Architecture, patrimoine et histoire · Préfecture d'Ehime

Kagomori Castle (sometimes read Kawagomori) stands in Matsuno, on the borders of the former provinces of Iyo and Tosa, on an isolated horseshoe-shaped hill open to the south. Enclosed by the Hiromi River, a tributary of the Shimanto, and two of its tributaries, this natural position controlled a route between present-day Ehime and Kōchi. For generations it was the seat of the Watanabe, local lords linked to the Ichijō of Tosa, before passing into the hands of the Chōsokabe and then of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's vassals. The site combines three successive sectors, the Old Castle, the Main Castle and the New Castle, which line up more than twenty terraced enclosures along the ridge, separated by deep transverse ditches, while the inner valley of Furo-ga-tani housed the residential area. Excavations carried out since 1991 have yielded imported ceramics, roof tiles and foundation stones, and have allowed gates and buildings to be reconstructed. A National Historic Site since 1997 and included in the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles, it can be explored on foot along laid-out paths.