Ibi Castle
Ibijō is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) ruin in Ibigawa Township, Ibi County. Ibijō was an earth-and-timber castle, and its ruins feature earthworks such as baileys, trenches and earthen ramparts. The castle layout is a rough 'V'-shape with various terraced fronds trailing off it. To the rear of th
History
Ibijō was built in 1343 by Toki Yorikatsu who became the first patriarch of the Ibi Clan. Ibijō was used by the Ibi Clan for over two centuries, but was besieged and razed by Saitō Dōsan in 1547. The castle was rebuilt by the Horiike Clan, vassals of the Saitō, on lower ground, but was conquered by Inaba Yoshimichi in 1583.
A third iteration of the castle, Ibi-jin'ya, was built by the Nishio Clan in 1600. This was a jin'ya built on flatland where the town is today. By that time the "castle" was for chiefly administrative purposes. In 1623, Nishio Yoshinori died without an heir, ending the clan. Ibi-jin'ya then passed to the Okada Clan.
Field Notes
Ibijō is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) ruin in Ibigawa Township, Ibi County. Ibijō was an earth-and-timber castle, and its ruins feature earthworks such as baileys, trenches and earthen ramparts. The castle layout is a rough 'V'-shape with various terraced fronds trailing off it. To the rear of the final bailey along the ridge is a complicated trench system with a dobashi (earthen bridge) spanning a horikiri (trench). The horikiri quickly descend and become tatebori (climbing moats). Conveniently one does not have to retrace one's steps from this final bastion, as there is a lower path which takes one along the side of the castle-mount where there is a well bore into rock. This path brings one back out just above the small shrine altar which can be found in one of the castle's forward terraces (the torii of which appears to be made from plastic pipes).
The hiking trail to Ibijō begins at Miwa-jinja, a comely shrine. It is possible to park at the Jōdaisan Park on the ridge above, but that would cut out the steep climb onto the ridge which is ideal for stretching one's legs. 'Jōdaisan' means 'Castle Platform Mount' and it probably got its name from Ibijō - almost certainly. Just before the final climb to the lower terraces of Ibijō there is a temple called Isshinji. The temple and trail up to the castle had lots of lovely autumn foliage. It was a lovely walk in the forest, indeed; one of those times one wants to take a deep breath and sigh how fine it is to be alive, but I didn't do so so as not to tempt fate as there were signs around warning of bears.
Gallery
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Ibi Castle |
| Japanese Name | 揖斐城 |
| Founder | Toki Yorikatsu |
| Year Founded | 1343 |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Designations | Local Historic Site |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Dorui, Horikiri, Dobashi, Tatebori, &c. |
| Features | trenches |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Ibi Station on the Yōrō Line; 30 minute walk to trailhead; 20+min hike from Miwa Shrine or Jōdaisan Park |
| Hours | 24/7 free; mountain |
| Time Required | 100 mins |
| URL | Castle Website |
| Location | Ibigawa, Gifu Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35.49535, 136.57267 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2025 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Hōrōki | |
| Oshiro Meguri | |
| Jōkaku Shashin Kiroku | |
| Kojōshi | |
| Yogo | |
