Old painted maps of the castle record a gate called Yanagi-gomon on the south side of the road in front of the Goken-yashiki residences. One theory holds that the castle entrance was a masugata — a square walled courtyard designed to slow and trap attackers — containing two gates, with Yanagi-gomon as the outer gate and Hoate-mon as the inner one.

This is described as the inner gate of the Yanagi-gomon masugata courtyard. One explanation of the name compares the masugata as a whole to a samurai helmet, with the inner gate serving much like the hoate, the cheek-and-jaw guard of a helmet.

After the Yanagisawa clan was transferred from Kofu to Koriyama in 1724 (Kyoho 9), residences for five senior retainer families of the clan were laid out here — which, one account says, is how the area came to be called Goken-yashiki, literally “the five houses”.

Nara Prefecture’s own introduction to the site records that traces of Sakura-mon remain on the north side of the Goken-yashiki in the sannomaru, the castle’s third enclosure. Old painted maps place two gates along the road in front of the Goken-yashiki residences: Yanagi-gomon to the south and Sakura-gomon to the north.

Commentary on the old painted maps explains that Kurogane-mon was the gate controlling access to the honmaru (main enclosure) and ninomaru (second enclosure). The city’s preservation and management plan describes reaching the gate by way of a causeway separating the Goken-yashiki moat from the Hasu-bori, the lotus moat. City-published historical records also carry the theory that Kurogane-mon, Sakura-mon, Nishi-mon and other gates were moved here from Fushimi Castle in Kyoto.

The historic-site map labels this Higashi-sumi-yagura, the East Corner Turret, and places it near the Ōtemon, the castle’s main gate. The same map notes that following the reconstruction of the Ōtemon, the Ōte East Corner Turret, the Ōte Mukai Turret and the Tamon Turret were rebuilt by 1987 (Showa 62).

Published accounts quoting the on-site information board, issued in the name of the city board of education, describe the Ōte Mukai Turret as a two-storey turret built to defend the Ōtemon, also known as Bairin-mon. Under the Honda clan it was called Ōtesaki Ushitora-sumi-yagura; after the Yanagisawa clan entered the castle it became known as Ōte Mukai-yagura. The same source records that it was taken down in 1873 (Meiji 6) and reconstructed in 1987 (Showa 62).

This gate was originally a kabukimon — a plain gate of two posts and a crossbeam, without a roof — and only came to be called Kugo-mon from around the Showa 40s, that is, the mid-1960s to mid-1970s.

The city’s preservation and management plan lists Tsukimi-yagura, the moon-viewing turret, among the structures set along the edges of the kuruwa, the castle’s walled enclosures. Its position today is shown on the historic-site map as Tsukimi-yagura-ato.

The historic-site map marks the position of Uzumi-mon-ato here.

The city’s preservation and management plan lists Umaya-mukai-yagura, the turret facing the stables, among the structures set along the edges of the kuruwa enclosures.

The city’s preservation and management plan lists Chikurin-mon among the structures set along the edges of the kuruwa enclosures, and the historic-site map shows its present position as Chikurin-mon-ato.

The historic-site map marks the position of Chikurin-bashi-ato, the site of the Chikurin bridge.

The city’s preservation and management plan lists Hitsujisaru-yagura among the structures set along the edges of the kuruwa enclosures. The historic-site map also shows it as Hitsujisaru-yagura-ato and gives the English name Hitsujisaru Tower Site. (Hitsujisaru is the old compass term for southwest.)

A note on access: when I visited in January 2026, the area around the marker was closed off because of a hornet risk. On a return visit in March 2026 that warning was no longer posted (as of March 2026). Check the notices on site for the current situation.

Nara Prefecture’s commentary on the old painted maps, which label the buildings around the Ninomaru Goten — the palace of the second enclosure — includes a gate written as “Omote-mon”.