Shizugatake Fort: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 21:15, 15 June 2025

Some of the site has been altered due to later development as a hiking trail and sightseeing spot, but the core fortifications remain clearly visible. On some weekends and holidays, volunteer guides offer detailed explanations of the battle and handout maps and "castle cards" of the castle. The comm

History

Shizugatake Fort was a key fortification in the second defensive line established by Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Battle of Shizugatake in 1583. Situated atop the 421-meter peak of Mt. Shizugatake, it commanded a wide view of Lake Yogo and the surrounding ridgelines, making it a crucial watchpoint and signaling position during the campaign.

Constructed along a ridge extending from the south of Lake Yogo, Shizugatake Fort formed a connected line with Oiwayama Fort (大岩山砦) approx 2km down the ridge and Iwasakiyama Fort (岩崎山砦) another 1.1km further down the ridge extending northeast from Shizugatake Fort.

Shizugatake Fort was heavily reinforced by Hideyoshi and placed under the command of Kuwabara Shigeharu (桑山重晴) and Hada Masachika (羽田正親). Its strong layout and difficult approach likely led Sakuma Morimasa (佐久間盛政) to bypass it during his daring flanking maneuver, instead targeting the more vulnerable Ōiwayama Fort manned by Nakagawa Kiyohide (中川清秀).

Field Notes

Some of the site has been altered due to later development as a hiking trail and sightseeing spot, but the core fortifications remain clearly visible. On some weekends and holidays, volunteer guides offer detailed explanations of the battle and handout maps and "castle cards" of the castle. The commanding views over the surrounding battlefield—stretching to every major fort in the Shizugatake campaign and even back toward Odani Castle—make this one of the most visually and historically impressive sites of the entire conflict. The trees at the top of the mountain have been thinned back which make it easy to spot from around the area.

My recommendation is to start from Kinomoto Station. Pick up your pamphlets, gojoin and other tourist information here. Take a taxi to the Shizugatake Lift and take the lift to the top. Lift Operating Hours vary by season and it is closed from around December to the end of April for snow. The ski lift to the summit makes the climb easy and fun. From there you can enjoy sweeping views of Lake Yogo, Lake Biwa, and the mountain ridgelines that once defined the strategic terrain. The downhill hike from Shizugatake to Yogo Station passes through Oiwayama Fort and Iwasakiyama Fort. Around the mountaintop and trail down, you’ll encounter a variety of wildflowers, some good birdwatching, and fresh mountain air—enough to turn this into an outdoor destination that you can trick even non-castle fan friends and family to enjoy with you.

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Gallery

Mt. Shizugatake as seen from across Lake Yogo

Castle Profile
English Name	Shizugatake Fort
Japanese Name	賤ヶ岳砦
Founder	Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Year Founded	1583
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features
Visitor Information
Access	JR Kinomoto Station, taxi or rentacycle to the Shizugatake Lift, 15 min hike from the top lift station
Hours	Lift operating hours vary seasonally; closed in winter; hiking trail open any time.
Time Required	60 mins
URL	Castle Website
Hiking Trail	View on Yamap
Jcastle Video	Jcastle YouTube
Location	Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture
Coordinates	35.50608, 136.1931
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2025
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2024
Admin Visits	April 29, 2024

1.00

(one vote)

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@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 |Japanese Name=賤ヶ岳砦
 |Romaji Name=Shizugatake Toride
-|Alternate Names=
 |Founder=Toyotomi Hideyoshi
 |Year Founded=1583
 |Castle Type=Mountaintop
-|Castle Condition=Ruins
+|Castle Condition=Ruins only
-|Designations=
 |Historical Period=Pre Edo Period
-|Features=
 |Access=JR Kinomoto Station, taxi or rentacycle to the Shizugatake Lift, 15 min hike from the top lift station
 |Visitor Information=Lift operating hours vary seasonally; closed in winter; hiking trail open any time.
 |Time Required=60 mins
 |Website=https://kitabiwako.jp/spot/spot_992/
+|Yamaptrail=https://yamap.com/activities/40242143
+|YoutubeJcastle=https://youtube.com/shorts/1c9otkQtGIM?si=qlzS-94-5fMQsu_H
 |City=Nagahama
 |Prefecture=Shiga Prefecture
-|Notes=Trail extends north to Ōiwayama and Iwasakiyama Forts
+|Notes=Some of the site has been altered due to later development as a hiking trail and sightseeing spot, but the core fortifications remain clearly visible. On some weekends and holidays, volunteer guides offer detailed explanations of the battle and handout maps and "castle cards" of the castle. The commanding views over the surrounding battlefield—stretching to every major fort in the Shizugatake campaign and even back toward [[Odani Castle]]—make this one of the most visually and historically impressive sites of the entire conflict. The trees at the top of the mountain have been thinned back which make it easy to spot from around the area.
+My recommendation is to start from Kinomoto Station. Pick up your pamphlets, ''gojoin'' and other tourist information here. Take a taxi to the Shizugatake Lift and take the lift to the top. Lift Operating Hours vary by season and it is closed from around December to the end of April for snow. The ski lift to the summit makes the climb easy and fun. From there you can enjoy sweeping views of Lake Yogo, Lake Biwa, and the mountain ridgelines that once defined the strategic terrain. The downhill hike from Shizugatake to Yogo Station passes through [[Oiwayama Fort]] and [[Iwasakiyama Fort]]. Around the mountaintop and trail down, you’ll encounter a variety of wildflowers, some good birdwatching, and fresh mountain air—enough to turn this into an outdoor destination that you can trick even non-castle fan friends and family to enjoy with you.
+|History=Shizugatake Fort was a key fortification in the second defensive line established by Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Battle of Shizugatake in 1583. Situated atop the 421-meter peak of Mt. Shizugatake, it commanded a wide view of Lake Yogo and the surrounding ridgelines, making it a crucial watchpoint and signaling position during the campaign.
+Constructed along a ridge extending from the south of Lake Yogo, Shizugatake Fort formed a connected line with [[Oiwayama Fort]] (大岩山砦) approx 2km down the ridge and [[Iwasakiyama Fort]] (岩崎山砦) another 1.1km further down the ridge extending northeast from Shizugatake Fort.
+Shizugatake Fort  was heavily reinforced by Hideyoshi and placed under the command of Kuwabara Shigeharu (桑山重晴) and Hada Masachika (羽田正親). Its strong layout and difficult approach likely led Sakuma Morimasa (佐久間盛政) to bypass it during his daring flanking maneuver, instead targeting the more vulnerable Ōiwayama Fort manned by Nakagawa Kiyohide (中川清秀).
+|Year Visited=2024
+|AddedJcastle=2025
+|Visits=April 29, 2024
+|GPSLocation=35.50608, 136.1931
+|Contributor=Eric
 }}