Tagamiyama Castle

Tagamiyama Castle is well signposted and maintained, with a clear trail. Easy access and well preserved ruins make it a must-see castle site for anyone exploring castles in the area, not just the Battle of Shizugatake. I estimated about 20 minutes on foot to reach the trailhead, but on this trip I r

History

The earliest known use of Tagamiyama Castle was as a field fortification by Asakura Yoshikage during the Genki Rebellion in 1573. He is believed to have stationed forces here as part of his campaign against Oda Nobunaga, though little else is known about the structure at that time.

In early 1583, as tensions escalated in the wake of Nobunaga’s death, Toyotomi Hideyoshi fortified Tagamiyama Castle as his primary base of operations leading up to the Battle of Shizugatake. Strategically positioned above the Hokkoku Kaidō — the key highway linking Ōmi Province to Shibata Katsuie’s domain in Echizen—the site offered critical control over regional movement and a midway point to other Hideyoshi Castles in the area. At the base of the mountain, Hideyoshi’s main force encamped around Kinomoto Jizōin (木之本地蔵院). The castle was manned by his brother, Hashiba Hidenaga.

On April 20, 1583, after his dramatic return from Ogaki (the famed Ogaki Ōgaeshi, or “Great Return”), Hideyoshi rallied his troops at Kinomoto Jizōin. He then climbed the mountain to Tagamiyama Castle — where his men could look out toward Oiwayama Fort, the site of Sakuma Morimasa’s incursion — and be inspired to launch their counterattack.

The two central compounds—corresponding to the main bailey and southern bailey (areas 1 and 2 on site maps)—are thought to be the original location of the Asakura encampment. Hideyoshi’s renovations likely included the earthen embankments surrounding these baileys and the construction of additional baileys. These newer sections feature architectural elements of the Shokuhō-style (織豊系), including a umadashi-style entrance and a characteristic L-shaped, offset entrance (kuichigai koguchi), designed to disrupt and slow advancing attackers.

Field Notes

Tagamiyama Castle is well signposted and maintained, with a clear trail. Easy access and well preserved ruins make it a must-see castle site for anyone exploring castles in the area, not just the Battle of Shizugatake. I estimated about 20 minutes on foot to reach the trailhead, but on this trip I rented a bicycle, which made visiting both Tagamiyama Castle and nearby Tabeyama Castle very manageable. If you have the time and energy, you could easily add Shizugatake Fort into the route and make a full day of castle exploration in the area. The Kinomoto Tourist Information Center, inside the train station, also offers Gojoin (御城印) for most of the castles and forts in the area and maps and other materials to enhance your trip.

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Gallery

Kinomoto Jizoin
Kinomoto Jizoin

Castle Profile
English Name	Tagamiyama Castle
Japanese Name	田上山城
Founder	Asakura Yoshikage
Year Founded	1573
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	JR Kinomoto Station, 20 min walk to trailhead
Hours	Mountain trails, well marked
Time Required	90 mins
URL	Castle Website
Location	Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture
Coordinates	35.51459, 136.22458
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2025
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2024
Admin Visits	April 29, 2024
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