Do you know the castle stamp Gojoin, which is popular among people who like castles?

This is like a certificate that you can purchase as a commemoration of your visit to the castle. They are sold at 11 castles in Hamamatsu City, including Hamamatsu Castle.

In Tenryu Ward, where many mountain castles have been built, castle seals from castles representing each area are on sale. In addition to interesting designs and sales locations, we will also introduce facilities where you can take a break before or after climbing Takane Castle in the Misakubo area.

What is Ojoin? Where can I buy it?

・What is the difference between Goshuin and Gojo-in?

▲Left: Gojo seal (Hamamatsu Castle), right: Goshuin (Shimosha of Akiba Shrine)

Some people may wonder, “What exactly is a Gojo seal? How is it different from a Goshuin?”

The difference between a goshuin and a castle stamp is that the former is taken as proof of your connection with the gods and Buddha when you visit a shrine or temple. Basically, you can get it at the shrines and temples.

The latter, on the other hand, is something like a certificate that can be purchased as a commemoration of visiting a castle (including castle ruins without structures such as castle towers). Castle seals are not issued at all castles in Japan, and are still limited to some castles.

As for where to purchase, if there is a shop etc. at the castle you visited, you can do so there. If there are no shops, etc., they are sold at facilities a little far from the site. In some cases, the same castle seal is sold at multiple locations.

In addition, goshuin are mainly written directly on the goshuin book that you bring with you, but castle stamps are printed and written on. Unlike Goshuin, which is “awarded” when you obtain it, Gojoin is different in that it can be “purchased.”

As of December 2022, castle seals from 11 castles are on sale in Hamamatsu City, including Hamamatsu Castle.

・6 major mountain castles are on sale in Tenryu Ward

▲6 castle seals in Tenryu Ward

Of these 11 castles, castle seals for the following 6 castles can be purchased within Tenryu Ward.

Futamata Castle, Tobayama Castle, Inui Castle, Nakao-no-Kabiu Castle, Odor Wakako Oboro Wakako Castle, Takane Castle

The place to purchase will be explained later, but it will vary depending on the castle, such as the local tourist association or souvenir shop.

Futamata Castle and Tobayama Castle (Tenryu area)

From here, I will introduce the castle seals in Tenryu Ward in order. Let’s start with Futamata Castle, which was the first of the six castles to have a castle seal, and Tobayama Castle.

Castle seal set for Futamata Castle and Tobayama Castle

As of December 2022, Futamata Castle’s castle seal is sold as a set with Tobayama Castle’s castle seal, and Futamata Castle is sold separately.

Both tickets are sold only at the Tenryu Ward Tourism Association Tenryu Branch, which is located east of Tenryu Futamata Station on the Tenryu Hamanako Railway. Gojo seals are available in limited quantities, so if you want one, hurry.

・Futamata Castle

▲Futamata Castle/Tobayama Castle castle seal set (part)

Approximately 20 kilometers north of Hamamatsu Castle. Futamata Castle, known as the castle where Tokugawa Ieyasu’s eldest son Nobuyasu committed suicide, was the site of a battle between the Tokugawa and Takeda forces.

The castle ruins that remain today are different from what they looked like during the Sengoku period due to changes made after Ieyasu moved to Kanto. As you enter the main keep, you will see the tower tower diagonally to the left. The stone wall is a field surface made of natural stone.

▲Upper left: Otemon, upper right: earthworks at the southern end of the warehouse, lower left and lower right: the warehouse

▲Left: No. 3 Horikiri seen from the south end of Ninomaru, Upper right: No. 3 Horikiri seen from near the warehouse entrance, Lower right: Inside No. 3 Horikiri

On the south side of the main enclosure, the Ninomaru, Kurayashiki, and Nankuruwa Kuruwa remain.

Otemon is a stone wall built on the east side of Ninomaru, which is separated from the main enclosure by Nakabikirimon. The stone walls on the north and south sides were constructed at different times. The east side of the warehouse is partially lowered, but this seems to be due to recent changes.

If you want to walk around Horikiri, we recommend Horikiri No. 3.

・Tobayama castle ruins

▲Futamata Castle/Tobayama Castle castle seal set (part)

Tobayama Castle’s castle seal just debuted on November 3, 2022. Don’t you think that the castle seal of Tobayama Castle, which depicts flowers and running water, is somewhat gorgeous and feminine?

When I asked the staff at the Tenryu Ward Tourism Association, I was told that this name comes from the fact that Tobayama Castle was a castle that served as a state guesthouse.

This is because Tobayama Castle was a separate castle that was paired with Futamata Castle, which was about 600 meters northeast of here.

Guest house and office. At that time, the Futamata River flowed between the two castles, and that was the relationship.

To get to the main enclosure of Tobayama Castle, please take the main road.

The width of Ote-michi is approximately 6 to 9 meters from the stone wall on the left to the stone wall on the right. For a castle of this size, it can be said to be exceptionally large.

▲Left: East gate, upper right: culvert outside the east gate, lower right: earthwork around the main enclosure

The main enclosure of Tobayama Castle is approximately 80 meters from north to south and approximately 45 meters from east to west. It is surrounded by earthworks.

You can walk on the earthworks, so if you have time, be sure to go around it.

▲Upper left: View of the Honmaru from the rest area, Upper right: Remains of the garden on the west side of the Honmaru, Lower left: View of the Tenryu River from the rest area, Lower right: The loincloth stone wall at the southwest corner of the Honmaru.

What is now called “Tobayama Castle” is the area that was renovated by Mr. Horio, who became the lord of the castle after Lord Ieyasu entered the Kanto region.

It is said that Lord Ieyasu set up his headquarters in 1575 (Tensho 3) on the mountaintop about 400 meters east of here in order to recapture Futamata Castle.

Inui Castle (Haruno District) & Nakabiu Castle (Ryuzan District) & Oborawakago Castle (Sakuma District)

▲Inui Castle in Haruno, Nakabiu Castle in Ryuzan, and Oborawakago Castle in Sakuma were all battlegrounds for the Takeda, Imagawa, and Tokugawa forces during the Sengoku period.

・Inui Castle

Approximately 400 meters northeast of Shizuoka Prefectural Tenryu High School Haruno Campus. Inui Castle was the residence of the Amano clan, who were active as subordinates of Imagawa during the Sengoku period.

After Yoshimoto Imagawa passed away, he tried to protect himself by changing his master family, but in the end, the castle fell under attack from the Tokugawa army. Currently, the castle ruins include Honkuruwa, Ninokuruwa, Umadekuruwa, and Horikiri.

▲Haruno Ikiiki Tengu Village (bear parent and child)

A restored model of Inui Castle and castle seals with the Amano family crest are on sale at two locations: Haruno Ikiiki Tengu Village (bear and cub) and Gekkaen.

・Nakabiu Castle

Nakabiu Castle, which was a branch castle of Imagawa during the Sengoku period, is about 2 kilometers west-northwest of the Ryuzan Collaboration Center. You can see Honkuruwa, Ninokuruwa, Dekuruwa, earthworks, etc. all along the mountain ridge at an altitude of 479 meters.

▲Yongsan Forest Culture Center

Gojo seals with the Imagawa family crest (red bird crest) are sold at three locations: Ryuzan Forest Culture Center, Dragon Mama, and Misugi Farm.

・Oborawakago Castle

Less than 300 meters east-northeast of JR Iida Line “Josai” Station. Oborawakago Castle is one of the branch castles of Takane Castle, a mountain castle in Misakubo, and is the mountain castle of the Okuyama clan.

It is said to have been built during the Nanbokucho period, and remains include the Honkuruwa and Double Horikiri.

▲Castle seal of Oborawakago Castle (S-shaped iron bridge version front, postcard size when folded)

▲Oborawakago Castle seal (S-shaped iron bridge version, back side, postcard size when folded)

There are a total of 6 types of castle seals for Oborawakago Castle.

There is also an S-shaped iron bridge, known as the “no-crossing iron bridge” on the JR Iida Line, and castle seals with each of the four divine beasts drawn on them, and many people are confused about which one to buy. Every castle seal has the Okuyama clan’s family crest on it.

Gojo seals are sold at three locations: Tenryu Ward Tourism Association Sakuma Branch, Gohei Mochi no Marufuku, and Barber Horiuchi. It’s up to you whether you want to buy one each time you visit Sakuma Town or all at once.

Takane Castle (Mizakubo district)

▲Looking at Honkuruwa from the Kashitemon side

Approximately 800 meters south-southwest from Mukoichiba Station on the JR Iida Line. Takane Castle, built in the first half of the 15th century at the northernmost tip of Totomi and Otoumi, is a mountain castle whose buildings and other features were reconstructed based on the results of excavations.

The castle lord, the Okuyama clan, wavered between the Imagawa, Takeda, and Tokugawa clans, but ultimately followed Takeda Shingen. After that, the castle became abandoned as the Takeda army retreated to Totomi.

▲Upper left: Double moat with an earthen embankment in the center, Lower left: Koguchi, which strengthened the defense south of Honkuruwa, Right: Yagenbori, which has a V-shaped cross section.

▲Top left: Earthen wall surrounding Honkuruwa and Irou Yagura, bottom left: center of Misakubo area seen from Takane Castle, top right: view from inside Irou Yagura, bottom right: Otemon Gate

Inside the castle, the Honkuruwa, Second Kuruwa, and Sanno Kuruwa can be seen from the north, and the well tower, Otemon gate, wooden bridge, etc. have been restored through careful historical research.

It is also famous as the filming location for the taiga drama “Onna Castle Lord Naotora”.

The castle seal features the restored Takane Castle as well as the family crests of Takeda, Nitta, and Okuyama. There are three sales locations: Misakuboji no Sato, Misakubo Hoshi-no-Eki Ao -AOI-, and Misakubo General Gymnasium.

Would you like to visit Takane Castle, which is depicted on the castle seal?

Take a break before and after climbing the castle at the castle stamp shop

At Misakubo Hoshi no Eki Ao -AOI-, which sells the castle stamps of Takane Castle, you can enjoy menus made with local Misakubo vegetables and pork and chicken produced within the prefecture.

▲Today’s Ao lunch box

▲Indian bean curry

The rice is served in a semicircular shape and is designed to resemble the Earth in two colors: white and light blue. The light blue part is dyed with pesticide-free butterfly pea.

Both the bento box and Indian bean curry had a gentle taste.

Inside the store, you’ll find not only special products from the Hokuen region, but also goods related to stars and fair trade products. It is popular that you can purchase souvenirs from the Hokuen region along with the castle seal.

Misakubo Star Station Ao -AOI- official website (external link)

「https://bisowa.co.jp/misakuboaoi/」

Original castle stamp book with dancing dragons

If you are thinking, “I would like a castle stamp book that is convenient for storing your castle stamps,” please contact the Tenryu Branch of the Tenryu Ward Tourism Association.

Here we sell original castle seal books with dragons drawn on them by Artist Sora (3,000 yen each, tax included).

The castle stamp book is a bellows-type insert type (pocket type) that can be replaced by castle lord or region. The number of sheets stored is 11 from the front of the book and 11 from the back. There are 22 pieces in total.

It’s a bellows type, so you can look at it as much as you want, whenever you want.

Castle seals for each castle sold in Tenryu Ward cost 300 yen each, and sets of Futamata Castle and Tobayama Castle seals cost 800 yen (tax included).

Official website of Tenryu Ward Tourism Association (external link)

「http://tenryu-daisuki.com/」

Which castle can you take down, and can you capture it in your hands?

During the Warring States period, the mountain castle in Tenryu Ward was an important castle that had the potential to redraw the power map.

What is the best way to follow and how can I protect my family?

Please feel the traces that the castle lords fought to protect from the castle seals and castle ruins.