Hello, this is _hiroyuki.ta. This time, I took a motorcycle tour to Oshi Castle in Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture. Oshi Castle is a castle built by the Narita clan during the Sengoku period, and is famous as a “floating castle” that withstood a water attack by Ishida Mitsunari during Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s conquest of Odawara.
It is currently maintained as a park, and the Gosankai Tower and castle gate have been restored. Gyoda City is also known as a production center for tabi socks, and you can tour the tabi storehouse and the tabi museum. This time, I would like to introduce the highlights and parking lots of Oshi Castle.
Oshi Castle is a flat castle built by Kenyasu Narita in the late 15th century. It is located on an alluvial fan between the Tone River to the north and the Arakawa River to the south, and has a defensive structure that uses marshes and natural embankments. It is counted as one of the seven famous castles in the Kanto region and withstood attacks from the Uesugi and Hojo clans. In 1590, during Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s pacification of the Kanto region, it was attacked by Ishida Mitsunari, but it held out until Odawara Castle fell first. This is the origin of its other name, “Shinobu’s Floating Castle”. During the Edo period, it served as the domain office of the Oshi clan and the residence of the Tokugawa clan’s feudal lords and relatives, but it was abandoned after the Meiji Restoration. Currently, it is a designated historic site by Saitama Prefecture, and the third floor turret has been rebuilt at the site of the main enclosure.
Route to Oshi Castle
This time, I headed to Oshijo from central Tokyo on a Harley-Davidson FLSB Sport Glide. I entered the Tohoku Expressway from the Metropolitan Expressway No. 6 Mukojima Line, exited at Hanyu IC, and entered Gyoda City via Prefectural Route No. 84. On the way, I was able to see Oshi Castle from the bridges that cross the Tone and Ara rivers. The area around Oshi Castle is surrounded by marshes and rice paddies, and the waterside scenery is beautiful. The streetscape with its tabi storehouses and old buildings is also a highlight.
When you arrive at Oshi Castle Ruins Park, the thing that stands out is the Gosankai Yagura Tower. The exterior of this building was restored using reinforced concrete in 1988, and the interior is now the Gyoda City Folk Museum. Here you can see the history of Oshi Castle and Gyoda City through photos and materials, and you can also watch a video of Ishida Mitsunari’s water attack. You can enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the top floor.
When you cross the bridge in front of the third floor tower, you will find the restored Korai Gate. It is not known for certain which gate this gate originally belonged to, but the name Korai-mon comes from the fact that Korai tiles were used. Inside the gate, a model of Oshi Castle and a model of Ishida Tsutsumi are displayed.
There are other remains in the park, such as the main castle earthworks and the clock bell. The main castle earthworks are the remains of the castle’s original structure and show how the castle withstood water attacks. A clock bell is a building that was used to tell the time during the Edo period, and has a structure in which a bell is hung and struck. It’s very quaint.
Oshijo motorcycle parking lot
There is a free parking lot right next to Oshijo Ruins Park.
33 regular cars and 4 buses can be parked here. You can also park your bike here. However, it can be crowded on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, so you may need to get there early or find another parking lot. There are also parking lots nearby for Gyoda City Hall and Gyoda City Folk Museum.
Summary
This time I went on a motorcycle tour to Oshijo.
Oshi Castle is famous as a “floating castle” that withstood water attacks during the Sengoku period, and is currently maintained as a park. The Gosankai Tower and Komamon Gate have been restored, and you can learn about the history of Oshi Castle and Gyoda City at the Gyoda City Folk Museum. Gyoda City is also known as a production area for tabi socks, and you can also visit the tabi storehouse and the tabi museum. The area around Oshi Castle is surrounded by marshes and rice paddies, and the waterside scenery is beautiful. Free parking is available if you come by bike, but please be aware that it can get crowded at times. Oshi Castle is a recommended spot where you can feel the history and culture of Saitama Prefecture.
