蒲原城, Medieval castle in Kambara, Japan
Kambara Castle is a medieval stronghold perched on a 138-meter (453 ft) hill overlooking Suruga Bay and the Fuji River. Its grounds contain earthen ramparts, ditches, and multiple baileys arranged across the site.
The Imagawa clan founded the castle in the mid-1500s, after which ownership shifted between the Takeda, Hojo, and Tokugawa families. It fell for the last time in 1582 as its military importance faded.
A Shinto shrine sits within the main bailey, and the Zenfukuji bailey displays reconstructed defensive structures like wooden stakes and watchtowers. These features reflect how successive rulers strengthened the castle's defenses.
From Shin-Kambara Station, head north on Route 396 to access the castle trail. A parking area is available partway up the hill for visitor convenience.
The castle grounds extend roughly 550 meters in both east-west and north-south directions, cleverly using natural terrain. This spacious design allowed successive rulers to add multiple defensive layers.
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