Kinugasa Castle Ruins
神奈川県
The Miura clan's home castle built by Miura Tamemichi in 1081, where the 89-year-old Yoshiaki sacrificed himself in 1180 to buy time for the clan to join Yoritomo's uprising.
Founded
1081
Type
Castle
Visited
Want to go
Access
20 min walk from JR Kinugasa Station
Kinugasa-cho 29, Yokosuka, Kanagawa
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Info
Castle
Founded 1081
945 years
Overview
Main castle of the Miura clan, built in 1081 by Miura Tamemichi as a medieval mountain fortress. For about 400 years it served as the military center of the Miura Peninsula. In 1180, when Yoritomo raised his army, Miura Yoshiaki — the 89-year-old patriarch — stayed behind at Kinugasa Castle to buy time for his clan against Hatakeyama Shigetada's forces, sacrificing himself heroically. This self-sa…
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Origins
Built by Miura Tamemichi in 1081. The 89-year-old Miura Yoshiaki died heroically in the 1180 Battle of Kinugasa. The castle served the Miura clan for about 400 years until their destruction in 1516.
人Related Figures— 3
人
Minamoto no Yoritomo
First Shogun of Kamakura
›
In 1180, when Yoritomo raised his banner against the Taira, Miura Yoshiaki—elderly patriarch of the Miura clan—chose to remain alone at Kinugasa Castle while sending his kinsmen to join Yoritomo's forces. Attacked by Hatakeyama Shigetada, he died heroically at 89, buying precious time. This sacrifice secured the Miura clan's standing as key allies in Yoritomo's fledgling shogunate.
Miura Yoshizumi
Great Vassal of Sagami
›
Kinugasa Castle was the mountain stronghold of the Miura clan, and Miura Yoshizumi held it as the son of the patriarch Miura Yoshiaki. In 1180, when the Miura rose in support of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the castle fell to Taira forces and Yoshiaki died there. Yoshizumi rallied the clan and became a leading vassal who helped establish Yoritomo's Kamakura shogunate.
M
Miura Yoshimura
The Scheming Vassal
›
Miura Yoshimura, son of Yoshizumi, expanded the clan's power from its Kinugasa stronghold. A shrewd strategist, he played key roles in the early shogunate's struggles, the fall of Kajiwara Kagetoki, the Wada Rebellion, and the Jokyu War, surviving the turbulent era of the thirteen councillors.
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