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|Visitor Information=mountain trails, well signposted
|Visitor Information=mountain trails, well signposted
|Time Required=20 mins
|Time Required=20 mins
|Yamaptrail=https://yamap.com/activities/40242143
|YoutubeJcastle=https://youtube.com/shorts/1c9otkQtGIM?si=qlzS-94-5fMQsu_H
|City=Nagahama
|City=Nagahama
|Prefecture=Shiga Prefecture
|Prefecture=Shiga Prefecture
|Notes=The castle site itself is quite small and requires only about 20 minutes to view it in its entirety. To reach the castle you need to either hike 2km downhill from [[Shizugatake Fort]] or 1.1 km up from [[Iwasakiyama Fort]].  The main enclosure is well maintained and signposted but the side baileys are overgrown and hard to get into.
|Notes=The castle site itself is quite small and requires only about 20 minutes to view it in its entirety. To reach the castle you need to either hike 2km downhill from [[Shizugatake Fort]] or 1.1 km up from [[Iwasakiyama Fort]].  The main enclosure is well maintained and signposted but the side baileys are overgrown and hard to get into.
|History=Ōiwayama Fort (大岩山砦) was one of the key mountaintop positions in Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s (羽柴秀吉) second defensive line during the Battle of Shizugatake (賤ヶ岳の戦い) in 1583. Situated on a high ridge north of Shizugatake Fort, it guarded the middle point of the defensive arc stretching from Shizugatake to Iwasakiyama Fort, overlooking Lake Yogo (余呉湖) and the valley routes below.
|History=Oiwayama Fort was the middle of three key mountaintop positions in Hideyoshi’s second defensive line extending up to [[Shizugatake Fort]]. Nakagawa Kiyohide, one of Hideyoshi's most trusted retainers was commanded to build the fort on March 17, 1873. On the morning of April 20, Shibata Katsuie’s general Sakuma Morimasa launched a bold attack while Hideyoshi was tied up in Gifu. Sakuma bypassed the well-defended Shizugatake summit and struck directly at Oiwayama via the lakeside route. In a brutal and chaotic fight, Nakagawa was killed in action at the castle, making Oiwayama Fort the first and only major position on Hideyoshi’s line to fall during the battle.


The fort was commanded by Nakagawa Kiyohide (中川清秀), one of Hideyoshi’s most trusted retainers. On the morning of April 20, Shibata Katsuie’s general Sakuma Morimasa (佐久間盛政) launched a bold flanking attack, bypassing the well-defended Shizugatake summit and striking directly at Ōiwayama via the lakeside route. In a brutal and chaotic fight, Nakagawa was killed in action, making Ōiwayama Fort the first and only major position on Hideyoshi’s line to fall during the battle.
The loss of Kiyohide was a heavy blow, but it also triggered Hideyoshi’s famed counteroffensive. On his return from Ogaki, Hideyoshi quickly assessed the situation, gathered his troops at [[Tagamiyama Castle]], and launched a rapid pursuit that routed Sakuma’s forces and turned the tide of the campaign.
 
The loss of Kiyohide was a heavy blow, but it also triggered Hideyoshi’s famed counteroffensive. Having just returned from Ōgaki (大垣大返し), Hideyoshi quickly assessed the situation, regrouped his troops from Tagamiyama Fort, and launched a rapid pursuit that ultimately routed Sakuma’s forces and turned the tide of the campaign.
 
Today, Ōiwayama Fort remains a powerful symbol of the cost of the battle—and a key vantage point to understand the terrain-based tactics of the time.
|Year Visited=2024
|Year Visited=2024
|AddedJcastle=2025
|AddedJcastle=2025
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|GPSLocation=35.52077, 136.20507
|GPSLocation=35.52077, 136.20507
|Contributor=Eric
|Contributor=Eric
|FriendsLinks={{FriendsLinks
|FriendWebsiteName=Jokaku Horoki
|FriendWebsiteURL=https://www.hb.pei.jp/shiro/oumi/ohiwayama-toride/
}}
}}
}}

Latest revision as of 23:40, 15 June 2025

The castle site itself is quite small and requires only about 20 minutes to view it in its entirety. To reach the castle you need to either hike 2km downhill from Shizugatake Fort or 1.1 km up from Iwasakiyama Fort. The main enclosure is well maintained and signposted but the side baileys a

Ooiwayama3.jpg

History

Oiwayama Fort was the middle of three key mountaintop positions in Hideyoshi’s second defensive line extending up to Shizugatake Fort. Nakagawa Kiyohide, one of Hideyoshi's most trusted retainers was commanded to build the fort on March 17, 1873. On the morning of April 20, Shibata Katsuie’s general Sakuma Morimasa launched a bold attack while Hideyoshi was tied up in Gifu. Sakuma bypassed the well-defended Shizugatake summit and struck directly at Oiwayama via the lakeside route. In a brutal and chaotic fight, Nakagawa was killed in action at the castle, making Oiwayama Fort the first and only major position on Hideyoshi’s line to fall during the battle.

The loss of Kiyohide was a heavy blow, but it also triggered Hideyoshi’s famed counteroffensive. On his return from Ogaki, Hideyoshi quickly assessed the situation, gathered his troops at Tagamiyama Castle, and launched a rapid pursuit that routed Sakuma’s forces and turned the tide of the campaign.


Field Notes

The castle site itself is quite small and requires only about 20 minutes to view it in its entirety. To reach the castle you need to either hike 2km downhill from Shizugatake Fort or 1.1 km up from Iwasakiyama Fort. The main enclosure is well maintained and signposted but the side baileys are overgrown and hard to get into.


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Gallery
  • Ooiwayama3.jpg
  • Ooiwayama1.jpg
  • Ooiwayama4.jpg
  • Ooiwayama5.jpg
  • Ooiwayama7.jpg
  • Ooiwayama8.jpg
  • Nakagawa Kiyohide's grave
  • Ooiwayama10.jpg
  • Ooiwayama11.jpg
  • Ooiwayama12.jpg
  • Ooiwayama13.jpg
  • Ooiwayama2.jpg
  • Ooiwayama6.jpg


Castle Profile
English Name Oiwayama Fort
Japanese Name 大岩山砦
Founder Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Year Founded 1583
Castle Type Mountaintop
Castle Condition Ruins only
Historical Period Pre Edo Period
Features
Visitor Information
Access JR Yogo Station
Hours mountain trails, well signposted
Time Required 20 mins
Hiking Trail View on Yamap
Jcastle Video Jcastle YouTube
Location Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture
Coordinates 35.52077, 136.20507
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Admin
Added to Jcastle 2025
Contributor Eric
Admin Year Visited 2024
Admin Visits April 29, 2024
Friends of JCastle
Jokaku Horoki


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