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The Castle Town of Yokote

Yokote Park Observation Deck looks out toward Mt. Chōkai and over the city of Yokote. The observation deck was designed to resemble a castle keep, but it is a modern structure that dates to 1965. In contrast, the park occupies the centuries-old grounds of Yokote Castle, which stood until the mid-nineteenth century. The observation deck is located at the northern end of the park, in what was once the secondary bailey (ninomaru) of this hilltop castle. The ninomaru contained the residence of the castle keeper, or jōdai, whose job was to oversee the castle on behalf of the powerful Satake family. Although the residence and castle are now gone, the two families that once controlled them are largely responsible for establishing Yokote as it exists today.

Arrival of the Onodera Family and Establishment of the Castle

The castle residence was initially occupied by the Onodera family, who built Yokote Castle. The Onodera family was awarded control of the area in the late twelfth century as repayment for service to the Kamakura shogunate (1185–1333). Afterward, they expanded their territory into the southern region of Akita Prefecture, building several castles in the area. Yokote Castle was fortified with steep earthen embankments sometime around 1550. To keep the embankments from collapsing, defenders planted nira (a vegetable similar to chives) to provide structure. This had the secondary benefits of making the embankments slippery and difficult for enemy attackers to climb, and the nira could be used as emergency foodstuffs if the castle came under siege.

The Onodera were accompanied by the families of their vassals, who occupied a neighborhood just below the hill. This led to a gradual expansion of the castle town as merchants and artisans moved to Yokote to meet the newly created demand for goods and services.

Control of Yokote Shifts to the Satake Family

At the turn of the seventeenth century, Japan was embroiled in civil war. The Onodera family had taken the side of the eventual victors, the Tokugawa, but they made a critical error: as the Onodera armies returned from a campaign, they attempted to reclaim a neighboring territory that had been taken from them by another ally of the Tokugawa. This attack established the Onodera family as an enemy of the Tokugawa, and when the war ended, the Onodera were exiled to western Japan. Yokote castle and its surrounding territories, along with the rest of Akita domain, were given to the daimyo Satake Yoshinobu (1570–1633) in 1602.

After the Satake established firm control of the area, they redirected the Yokote River to create space for more vassal homes. As a result, the lord’s vassals were given land grants to build their residences near Yokote Castle, while the merchants built their homes and businesses on the opposite bank of the river.

Yokote Castle remained a part of Akita domain until its destruction during the Boshin War (1868), which brought an end to the Tokugawa shogunate. The remnants of the castle were used in the construction of Akita-jinja Shrine, which was built to enshrine the first and last of the Satake daimyo. In 1902, the area was turned into a park, and it continues to be the site of important local events such as the Winter Festival.

橫手的城下町與俯瞰全城的天守

登上橫手公園的觀景台，可以遠眺鳥海山和橫手市區。觀景台模仿了古代城堡中天守的樣式，但實際上於1965年才建成。然而，公園所在地卻是數百年前的橫手城舊址，直到19世紀中期，這座城堡都還矗立在此。觀景台位於公園的北端，那裡曾是當年橫手城的「二之丸」（日本城堡中地位僅次於本丸的重要部分），城內的二之丸御殿是「城代」的住所，城代的職責是為佐竹家族管理城堡。雖說當年的城堡與御殿都已不復存在，但橫手市如今的面貌與曾經是城主的兩大家族密不可分。

小野寺家族的興起與橫手城的建立

橫手城為小野寺家族建造，最初也由他們佔據作為常居之地。12世紀晚期，因效忠鐮倉幕府（1185-1333），小野寺家族得到封賞，獲得了掌管這個地區的權力。此後，小野寺家族在如今的秋田縣南部逐步擴張領地，並又在數處建造了城堡。西元1550年前後，為了強化城堡防禦能力，橫手城築起了陡峭的土堤。據說，當時土堤上種植了大量韭菜，不僅為了固土，還能讓土堤表面更光滑，增加敵方攀爬的難度。因此，橫手城也被稱為「韭城」。此外，一旦城堡陷入圍困，韭菜還能充當應急儲糧。

小野寺家族的家臣們在橫手城所在的山腳安家落戶，催生出新的生活服務需求，於是商人與工匠開始遷往此地，這使得城堡周邊的都市「城下町」範圍擴大，日益繁榮。

佐竹家族接掌橫手

16世紀初，日本進入戰國時代。小野寺家族原本已經站在最終的勝利者德川家族一邊，然而，他們的軍隊從戰場歸來後，卻試圖收回被德川陣營中另一盟友奪走的領地。這次進攻讓小野寺家族被視為德川家族的敵對方，導致他們在戰爭結束後被流放到了日本西部地區。1602年，橫手城及其城外轄地，和秋田藩（今秋田縣）一起被賜予了新領主佐竹義宣（1570-1633）。

佐竹家族在橫手地區建立起穩定的掌控權後，為了開闢出更多土地供家臣使用，啟動了橫手川改道工程。這些土地經領主賞賜，劃分到家臣手中，讓他們能在橫手城周邊建宅安家。商人們則在河對岸建起房屋，經營生意。

1868年，戊辰戰爭終結了幕府統治，此前一直隸屬於秋田藩的橫手城也毀於這場戰爭之中。人們利用城堡的殘存建築建起了秋田神社，供奉第一任和最後一任佐竹領主。1902年，城堡舊址改造為公園。如今它依然是當地重要的公共活動場所，包括「橫手冰雪節」在內的許多活動都會在此舉辦。

横手的城下町与俯瞰全城的天守

登上横手公园的观景台，可以远眺鸟海山和横手市区。观景台模仿了古代城堡中天守的样式，但实际上于1965年才建成。相反，公园所在地却是数百年前的横手城旧址，直到19世纪中期，这座城堡都还矗立在这里。观景台位于公园的北端，那里是当年横手城的“二之丸”（日本城堡中地位仅次于本丸的重要部分）。里面的二之丸御殿是“城代”的居所，城代的职责是为佐竹家族管理城堡。虽说当年的城堡与御殿都已不复存在，但横手市如今的面貌与曾经是城主的两大家族密不可分。

小野寺家族的兴起与横手城的建立

横手城最初是它的建造者小野寺家族的据点。12世纪晚期，因效忠镰仓幕府(1185-1333)，小野寺家族得到封赏，获得了掌管这个地区的权力。此后，小野寺家族在如今的秋田县南部区域逐步扩张领地，并又在数处建造了城堡。1550年前后，为了强化城堡防御能力，横手城筑起了陡峭的土堤。据说，当时为了防止土崩，同时增加地表光滑度使敌人难以攀爬，筑堤时还种植了大量韭菜，因此，横手城也被称为“韭城”。此外，一旦城堡陷入围困，韭菜还能充当应急食物储备。

小野寺家族的家臣们在横手城所在的山脚安家落户，催生出新的生活服务需求，于是商人与工匠开始迁往此地，这使得城堡周边的都市“城下町”越来越大，日益繁荣。

佐竹家族接掌横手

16世纪初，日本进入战国时代。小野寺家族原本已经站在了最终的胜利者德川家族一方，然而，他们的军队从战场归来后，却试图收回被德川阵营中另一盟友夺走的领地。这次进攻让小野寺家族被视为了德川家族的敌对方，在战争结束后被流放到了日本西部地区。1602年，横手城及其城外辖地，和秋田藩（今秋田县）一起被赐予了新领主佐竹义宣(1570-1633)。

佐竹家族在横手地区建立起稳定的掌控权后，为了开辟出更多土地供家臣使用，启动了横手川改道工程。这些土地经领主赏赐，划分到家臣手中，让他们能在横手城周边建宅安家。商人们则在河对岸建起房屋，经营生意。

1868年，戊辰战争终结了幕府统治，此前一直隶属于秋田藩的横手城也毁于这场战争之中。人们利用城堡的残存建筑建起了秋田神社，供奉第一任和最后一任佐竹领主。1902年，城堡旧址改造为公园。如今它依然是本地重要的公共活动场所，包括“横手冰雪节”在内的许多活动都会在这里举办。