outermost castle enclosure; outer fortifications including the castle town
Historical term referring to the large-scale defensive perimeter of a Japanese castle that enclosed not only the castle itself but also the surrounding town (jōkamachi). Used in descriptions of castle architecture and history.
The sōgamae of Odawara Castle was a large-scale structure that enclosed the entire castle town.
Castles of the Warring States period sometimes had an outer enclosure called sōgamae.