Kinzan Castle: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:18, 17 May 2025

Kinzan Castle is perched on one of the tallest peaks dividing eastern and western Tanba. The hike involves a steep 300-meter elevation gain, but the trail is well marked and clean. Even on a weekday, I encountered a few other hikers enjoying the mountains on a crisp, clear morning. Access is limite

History

During Oda Nobunaga’s Tanba Campaigns, Akechi Mitsuhide faced stiff resistance from two entrenched regional powers: the Akai clan at Kuroi Castle and the Hatano clan at Yakami Castle. His first attempt to subjugate Tanba in 1575–1576 faltered due to rugged terrain, extended supply lines, and coordinated resistance between the two clans.

Regrouping with a stronger logistical foundation, Mitsuhide launched a second campaign in 1578–1579. This time, his strategy followed a divide and conquer approach. The high mountain range that separated eastern and western Tanba offered a natural boundary. Mitsuhide constructed Kinzan Castle atop one of the tallest peaks in the corridor between these two adversaries, isolating them providing logistical support and intelligence. From the summit, it is actually possible to see both Kuroi Castle and Yakami Castle — a literal and symbolic high ground from which he could monitor and coordinate his campaign. Although without telescopes, the were probably a bit far to practically spy upon.

Construction of Kinzan Castle began soon after the siege of Yakami Castle was underway. Once Yakami fell, the isolation of Kuroi Castle followed swiftly, leading to the downfall of the Akai clan as well. With the Hatano and Akai both defeated, Kinzan Castle lost its military function and was likely abandoned.

Field Notes

Kinzan Castle is perched on one of the tallest peaks dividing eastern and western Tanba. The hike involves a steep 300-meter elevation gain, but the trail is well marked and clean. Even on a weekday, I encountered a few other hikers enjoying the mountains on a crisp, clear morning.

Access is limited, and getting here requires planning. I stayed overnight in Sasayama specifically to reach the site. Only four buses a day pass the trailhead, shuttling a few local residents on the route between Sasayamaguchi and Kaibara, so timing is critical.

Despite the difficulty in reaching it, the summit rewards you with sweeping views over both valleys. I was lucky to get such great weather this morning to see both Kuroi Castle and Yakami Castle.

At the foot of the castle lies Eirinji, a notable temple constructed within the lower baileys of the former castle. The stonework surrounding the temple is not original to the castle, but rather part of the temple complex. Around the side of Eirinji, you can find the original castle well and a visible tatebori (vertical trench) climbing toward a detached lookout-style bailey (dejiro).

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Gallery

Enrinji

Castle Profile
English Name	Kinzan Castle
Japanese Name	金山城
Founder	Akechi Mitsuhide
Year Founded	1579
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Sasayamaguchi Station or Kaibara Station, bus
Hours	Mountain trails, open any time
Time Required	150 mins
Location	Tanba Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture
Coordinates	35.11228, 135.11385
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2025
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2024
Admin Visits	November 8, 2024

2.00

(one vote)

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@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 |City=Tanba Sasayama
 |Prefecture=Hyogo Prefecture
-|Notes=The mountain is one of the highest in teh range between the east and west Tanba regions. The hike is a fairly steep 300m of elevation change but the trail is very clean and well marked. Despite being a weekday, there were a few other hikers around and criss crossing the mountains.
+|Notes=Kinzan Castle is perched on one of the tallest peaks dividing eastern and western Tanba. The hike involves a steep 300-meter elevation gain, but the trail is well marked and clean. Even on a weekday, I encountered a few other hikers enjoying the mountains on a crisp, clear morning.
-This is a somewhat challenging castle to get to and I spent the night in Sasayama specifically so I could do so.  there are only 4 busses per day that pass by the trailhead as they shuttle a few locals between Sasayamaguchi and Kaibara.
+Access is limited, and getting here requires planning. I stayed overnight in Sasayama specifically to reach the site. Only four buses a day pass the trailhead, shuttling a few local residents on the route between Sasayamaguchi and Kaibara, so timing is critical.
-Today, remnants of stonework, earthworks, and bailey formations remain on the mountain, though overgrowth and limited access make exploration somewhat difficult. The site offers sweeping views over the valleys to both east and west, making its tactical importance immediately apparent to those who reach the summit.
+Despite the difficulty in reaching it, the summit rewards you with sweeping views over both valleys. I was lucky to get such great weather this morning to see both [[Kuroi Castle]] and [[Yakami Castle]].
-A famous temple called Eirinji was built in the lower baileys of the castle ruins. The stonework you see here is not original to the castle. It was part of the temple complex. Around the side of this temple complex you can also find the well for the castle and a tatebori that goes up to another lookout type detached bailey or dejiro.
+At the foot of the castle lies Eirinji, a notable temple constructed within the lower baileys of the former castle. The stonework surrounding the temple is not original to the castle, but rather part of the temple complex. Around the side of Eirinji, you can find the original castle well and a visible tatebori (vertical trench) climbing toward a detached lookout-style bailey (dejiro).
-|History=In the Tanba Campaigns of Nobunaga, led by Akechi Mitsuhide against two holdout clans; the Akai at [[Kuroi Castle]] and the Hatano at [[Yakami castle]], prevented the completion of these Tanba Campaigns in the first attempt at subjugation in 1575-1576. After regrouping and coming back with a more solid foundation and strategy Akechi Mitsuhide completed the subjugation of Tanba in the second campaign of 1578-1579. Part of this strategy was the classic divide and conquer. A high mountain range between these two key nemeses aided their downfalls as Akechi built Kinzan Castle in the middle of the corridor between the two, splitting teh resistance and allowing Mitsuhide to isolate and defeat each one by one. From the top of Kinzan Castle you can actually see both [[Kuroi Castle]] and [[Yakami Castle]], essentially looking down upon them. Construction of Kinzan Castle was begun soon after the siege of [[Yakami Castle]] had begun. After the fall of [[Yakami CAstle]], [[Kuroi Castle]] soon fell too.
+|History=During Oda Nobunaga’s Tanba Campaigns, Akechi Mitsuhide faced stiff resistance from two entrenched regional powers: the Akai clan at [[Kuroi Castle]] and the Hatano clan at [[Yakami Castle]]. His first attempt to subjugate Tanba in 1575–1576 faltered due to rugged terrain, extended supply lines, and coordinated resistance between the two clans.
-After the fall of both the Hatano and Akai strongholds Kinzan Castle lost its military value and was likely abandoned.
+Regrouping with a stronger logistical foundation, Mitsuhide launched a second campaign in 1578–1579. This time, his strategy followed a divide and conquer approach. The high mountain range that separated eastern and western Tanba offered a natural boundary. Mitsuhide constructed Kinzan Castle atop one of the tallest peaks in the corridor between these two adversaries, isolating them providing logistical support and intelligence. From the summit, it is actually possible to see both [[Kuroi Castle]] and [[Yakami Castle]] — a literal and symbolic high ground from which he could monitor and coordinate his campaign. Although without telescopes, the were probably a bit far to practically spy upon.
+Construction of Kinzan Castle began soon after the siege of [[Yakami Castle]] was underway. Once Yakami fell, the isolation of [[Kuroi Castle]] followed swiftly, leading to the downfall of the Akai clan as well. With the Hatano and Akai both defeated, Kinzan Castle lost its military function and was likely abandoned.
 |Year Visited=2024
 |AddedJcastle=2025