Mizotani Fort

There are no signs or maintained trails to this site. On the logging road trail to Tohnoyama Fort, you need to figure out from the maps roughly where it looks to be and scramble up the steep hillside to the ridge From the trailhead. Going directly into the main bailey area proved to be too steep

History

Mizotani Fort is located on a small spur of the mountain south of Shobudani Fort. It consists of one horikiri trench and three small baileys. Due to its size and position overlooking the road below, it likely served as a lookout point or helped to guard the more gentle slope leading up toward Tohnoyama Fort.

See the Battle of Shizugatake for more details.

Field Notes

There are no signs or maintained trails to this site. On the logging road trail to Tohnoyama Fort, you need to figure out from the maps roughly where it looks to be and scramble up the steep hillside to the ridge From the trailhead. Going directly into the main bailey area proved to be too steep and difficult, but backtracking a bit on the trail and scrambling up a point further back on the ridgeline and then descending into the castle seemed to work better. The site is small with not a lot to see but can be reached without too much difficulty if you are taking this road to Tohnoyama Fort anyway and you know what you’re looking for.

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Gallery

Castle Profile
English Name	Mizotani Fort
Japanese Name	溝谷砦
Founder	Hashiba Hideyoshi
Year Founded	1583
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	JR Yogo Station, 3.5 km to the trailhead
Hours	No clear trails or signage
Time Required	10 mins on site
Location	Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture
Coordinates	35.54935, 136.20612
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2025
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2023
Admin Visits	April 28, 2023
Friends of JCastle
Jokaku Horoki

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