10 Kyoto Castles Update May 2025: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:42, 15 May 2025

This update brings 10 new castles from across Kyoto Prefecture, all loosely tied to the Tanba Campaigns and eventually falling to Akechi Mitsuhide during his push through the region. Kyoto isn’t always thought of as a top destination for castl'ing, but the city, its suburbs, and the outer edges of t

10 Kyoto Castles Update May 2025

2025-05-16

This update brings 10 new castles from across Kyoto Prefecture, all loosely tied to the Tanba Campaigns and eventually falling to Akechi Mitsuhide during his push through the region. Kyoto isn’t always thought of as a top destination for castl'ing, but the city, its suburbs, and the outer edges of the prefecture are full of hidden fortresses and overlooked sites that tell the story of Japan’s power struggles and shifting alliances in the late 1400s through the 1500s.

This update also adds four profiles (Shiogai Castle, Higashi Goma Castle, Obata Castle (Tanba), and Onigajo Castle) from the list of recommended castles from the Woodland Kyoto campaign. While these are sometimes difficult to access they are all well preserved and have features worth visiting.

Higashi Goma Castle / 東胡麻城

The most common approach to this castle seems to be to hike from Shiogai Castle, but you could equally start from this side, and it might be easier to find the entrance. The last photo below shows it clearly. From here, you can easily hike around the horseshoe shaped mountain to Shiogai Castle. You can also refer to my Yamap trail for more details of this course including both these castles, Noge Yakata and the Goma Nakamura Castle. I got interested in these sites from the Mori-no-Kyoto (Woodland Kyoto) booth at the Osaka Castle Festival last summer and made it my first visit of the autumn castle season. The site is well maintained by local volunteers with many small handmade signs pointing out key features. The volunteers also do occasional tours of these sites.

Noge Yakata / 野化館

I did not expect much before going to this site but was really impressed by two huge horikiri trenches. The trail from the roadside first takes you up to the main trench which separates the residence from the mountain side. The residence side also has a high embankment making the trench seem even taller/deeper. Ringing the main bailey you will find well preserved embankments and the opposite end from the entrance is another huge horikiri trench. Unfortunately this side is not maintained and heavily weeded/wooded over so it took some work to get down inside the trench and back out again. The bailey on the opposite side is completely weeded over. The site was cleaned up, trail created and markers added in 2017. It still seems to be somewhat maintained but is also slowly being reclaimed by nature.

Obata Castle / 小幡城

This is one of the most well preserved large scale Sengoku Period castle sites in the immediate Tokyo area and probably the best in Ibaraki Pref. Most of the castle structure remains and those huge trenches are really impressive. I wish I had someone with me to put in the photos for scale.

Onigajo Castle / 鬼ヶ城

While older maps (like this one from the Kyoto Castle Survey) indicate ruins primarily around the mountain’s summit and main enclosure, a newer map in 明智光秀の城郭と合戦 reveals additional ruins along the trail. Notably, there are two distinct koguchi (gate entrances) along the path, each accompanied by dorui (earthen embankments). The nearer koguchi features some remaining stonework. Just before reaching the first koguchi, hikers will encounter a series of terraced kuruwa (baileys) too.

This is a long steep hike, but the trail is clear and well marked making it a good trek. The trailhead begins at Kannonji Temple and diverges from a popular hiking route leading to Mt. Chōgatake, which may have hosted another satellite fortification. Originally, I planned to explore this area as well; however, despite the clear morning weather, afternoon rain clouds prompted a change in plans.

Access to Onigajō via public transportation is limited. The nearest option is a 5 km uphill walk from Gujo Station. I started here but treated myself to a taxi ride to reach the trailhead since it was my birthday. Despite providing detailed directions, the driver attempted to take me to a forestry road leading to an alternate trail he recalled from his school days, which would supposedly end up much closer to the summit than Kannonji Temple. Unfortunately, this trail appears to no longer exist, or the forestry road is inaccessible. The driver felt bad about the inconvenience and kindly offered a complimentary return ride to Fukuchiyama Station after my hike. Given the changing afternoon weather conditions, I very much appreciated the gesture.

History clarification: Some blog sources inaccurately state that Onigajō fell to Akechi Mitsuhide in 1575. However, Mitsuhide’s initial campaign in Tanba began in 1575 but did not reach Fukuchiyama until the second campaign in 1578–1579. Therefore, the fall of Onigajō is more accurately dated to 1579.

https://www.kyoto-be.ne.jp/bunkazai/cms/?page_id=1521

Map Courtesy of Kyoto Pref. Board of Education.
Not to be used without permission.

Shiogai Castle / 塩貝城

There are a couple trails into the castle site. I had a little trouble finding the one I was looking for that starts near the grave or memorial marker for the defeat by Akechi Mitsuhide's forces. I found the marker on the other side of a fence but had to go back and forth a bit to find the entrance through the fence. I ended up crawling under a loose area only to find an actual gate just a few meters away! From this grave marker the trail is very clear with several signs pointing the way. From here you can easily hike around the horseshoe shaped mountain to Higashi Goma Castle. You can also refer to my Yamap trail for more details of this course including both these castles Noge Yakata and the Goma Nakamura Castle. I got interested in this site from the Mori-no-Kyoto booth at the Osaka Castle Festival (2024). The site is well maintained by local volunteers who also do occasional tours of these sites.

Shizuhara North Castle / 静原城（北城）

The name “Shizuhara Castle” is commonly used to refer to two distinct sites on this mountain: what I call Shizuhara North Castle (at the peak) and Shizuhara South Castle (on a lower rise to the south). It is not a very well known nor well studied castle which is unfortunate because the ruins are absolutely worth visiting. This is a situation where trekking out to these sites, observing the land and castle structures with your own eyes and making your own theories is critical. Most references lump them together as one complex, but I believe this obscures their distinct histories and layouts. The Kyoto Castle Survey treats them as the “North Bailey Grouping” and “South Bailey Grouping” within a single entry. However, Jōkaku Hōrōki clearly distinguishes the two, and Google Maps labels the north site as Shirotaniyama Shizuhara Castle. Based on my observations, I think it is appropriate to treat them as separate castles.

Shizuhara North Castle is located at the mountain summit and consists of terraced baileys along three ridgelines. There is minimal stonework: a possible gate foundation in the main bailey and one side bailey with stones that may have served as a retaining wall rather than fortifications. In contrast, the South Castle, which lies farther away than one might expect from maps, features extensive stonework, tatebori (vertical moats), and a prominent horikiri trench isolating it from the upper ridge — evidence of a later, more advanced fortification.

The trail begins to the left of Shizuhara Shrine and climbs steeply to the summit, reaching Shizuhara North Castle in about 45 minutes. While the path can be steep and is not well marked, it is generally clear and manageable without risk of getting lost.

See Shizuhara South Castle for more details.

Shizuhara South Castle / 静原城（南城）

The name “Shizuhara Castle” is commonly used to refer to two distinct sites on this mountain: what I call Shizuhara North Castle (at the peak) and Shizuhara South Castle (on a lower rise to the south). It is not a very well known nor well studied castle which is unfortunate because the ruins are absolutely worth visiting. This is a situation where trekking out to these sites, observing the land and castle structures with your own eyes and making your own theories is critical. Most references lump them together as one complex, but I believe this obscures their distinct histories and layouts. The Kyoto Castle Survey treats them as the “North Bailey Grouping” and “South Bailey Grouping” within a single entry. However, Jōkaku Hōrōki clearly distinguishes the two, and Google Maps labels the north site as Shirotaniyama Shizuhara Castle. Based on my observations, I think it is appropriate to treat them as separate castles.

Shizuhara North Castle is located at the mountain summit and consists of terraced baileys along three ridgelines. There is minimal stonework: a possible gate foundation in the main bailey and one side bailey with stones that may have served as a retaining wall rather than fortifications. In contrast, the South Castle, which lies farther away than one might expect from maps, features extensive stonework, tatebori (vertical moats), and a prominent horikiri trench isolating it from the upper ridge — evidence of a later, more advanced fortification.

To reach the South Castle directly, you can climb the ridge from the base near Shizuhara village, but there is no marked trail. Even descending this way requires some navigation, and the path can be difficult to identify. If you’re already visiting the North Castle anyway, I would recommend to descend the eastern ridge to reach the South Castle.

Be advised: while the trail up to the North Castle is relatively clean and manageable, the descent toward the South Castle is overgrown, poorly marked, and scattered with fallen trees. You’ll need to scramble over or around these obstacles and watch the trees for ribbons indicating the path. That said, the South Castle’s ruins — with stone walls, vertical moats (tatebori), and a massive horikiri trench — make the effort worthwhile and it is much more interesting than the North Castle. You can also refer to my Yamap Trail log for navigation support.

See Shizuhara North Castle for more details.

The part "|Goma Nakamura Castle||Iden Castle||Iden Miyanokoshi Castle" of the query was not understood.</br>Results might not be as expected.

Loading map...

The part "|Goma Nakamura Castle||Iden Castle||Iden Miyanokoshi Castle" of the query was not understood.</br>Results might not be as expected.

Recent News

Jun 7, 2025
Comment System Upgrade

May 24, 2025
Four new castles around Sasayama Hyogo

May 16, 2025
10 Kyoto Castles Update May 2025

Mar 23, 2025
Hagi Castle & Hagi Castle Town Project

Jan 23, 2025
Bitchu Matsuyama Castle and Ohmatsuyama Castle Updates

Jan 3, 2025
2024 Jcastle cleanup and Happy New Year 2025

Dec 10, 2024
Sayonara Google Maps

Dec 2, 2024
Tsuyama Castle Update and 500th Castle Visited

Nov 11, 2024
Jcastle Rebuild 2024

Oct 3, 2024
11 New Castles around Kyoto

Sep 30, 2024
ART's New Profiles for Aichi Prefecture

Sep 22, 2024
5 new Okinawa Castle Profiles

Jul 27, 2024
Mikazuki Jinya, Kohyama Castle, and updated Hikone Castle

Jul 22, 2024
28 new profiles from ART

Jul 7, 2024
5 Castles from Ayabe City in Kyoto

Jun 24, 2024
ART Updates for Yamanashi Prefecture and Shizuoka Prefecture

Jun 23, 2024
Kuroi Castle, Sumoto Castle, Ohmizo Castle and other updates

Jun 3, 2024
Spring 2024 Special Exhibits and More

Jun 2, 2024
ART's Autumn 2023 Nagano Castles Part II

Jun 1, 2024
ART's Autumn 2023 Nagano Castles Part I

... further results

0

Vote

Loading comments...

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 |NewsBody=This update brings 10 new castles from across Kyoto Prefecture, all loosely tied to the Tanba Campaigns and eventually falling to Akechi Mitsuhide during his push through the region. Kyoto isn’t always thought of as a top destination for castl'ing, but the city, its suburbs, and the outer edges of the prefecture are full of hidden fortresses and overlooked sites that tell the story of Japan’s power struggles and shifting alliances in the late 1400s through the 1500s.
-This update also adds four profiles ([[Shiogai Castle]], [[Higashi Goma Castle]], [[Obata Castle]], and [[Onigajo Castle]] from the list of recommended castles from the [[Castles of Kyoto | Woodland Kyoto]] campaign. While these are sometimes difficult to access they are all well preserved and have features worth visiting.
+This update also adds four profiles ([[Shiogai Castle]], [[Higashi Goma Castle]], [[Obata Castle (Tanba)]], and [[Onigajo Castle]]) from the list of recommended castles from the [[Castles of Kyoto | Woodland Kyoto]] campaign. While these are sometimes difficult to access they are all well preserved and have features worth visiting.
-|CastlesReferenced=[[Shiogai Castle||Higashi Goma Castle||Obata Castle||Onigajo Castle||Shizuhara NOrth castle||Shizuhara South Castle||Noge Yakata|Goma Nakamura Castle||Iden Castle||Iden Miyanokoshi Castle]]
+|CastlesReferenced=[[Shiogai Castle||Higashi Goma Castle||Obata Castle||Onigajo Castle||Shizuhara North Castle||Shizuhara South Castle||Noge Yakata|Goma Nakamura Castle||Iden Castle||Iden Miyanokoshi Castle]]
 }}