Yamaguchi Castle (Mino)
Yamaguchijō is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) ruin between the townships of Yamaguchi and Hōrinji in Motosu Municipality. Ruins feature earthworks. Yamaguchijō is treated as the principal fort of the Monjuyama fortress group, the peak of Monjuyama being the site of Yamaguchijō. There are signboards
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History
Yamaguchijō is obscure in the historical record. For more information see Ikoyamajō...
Field Notes
Yamaguchijō is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) ruin between the townships of Yamaguchi and Hōrinji in Motosu Municipality. Ruins feature earthworks. Yamaguchijō is treated as the principal fort of the Monjuyama fortress group, the peak of Monjuyama being the site of Yamaguchijō. There are signboards about the castle here, and this part of the mountain seems to have been developed a little as a park rather than simply a hiking trail.
Yamaguchijō is also distinguished from the other forts in the group by its obikuruwa (ring bailey) surrounding the main bailey. The obikuruwa has some indications of having different levels or slight terracing. There is a gate ruin to the side of the modern entrance to the main bailey.
I had hiked in a big circuit starting from Motosu Station and climbing to Kakeborajō (which for me is the most impressive fortress in the Monjuyama group). I then walked the ridge to Ikoyamajō, continued on to Hōrinjijō, and descended thence before sweeping back up to reach Yamaguchijō. For the first time that day I encountered other people, as an elderly couple came up along the steep stairway along the ridge between the sites of Yamaguchijō and Nakanojō. I said to the old man "Steep, isn't it?" and he said "Not at all!". Oh!
This site is Yamaguchijō in Mino Province, not to be confused with Yamaguchijō in Suo Province (Yamaguchi Prefecture).
Gallery
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Yamaguchi Castle (Mino) |
| Japanese Name | 美濃山口城 |
| Founder | Furuta-Oribe Clan |
| Year Founded | Sengoku Period |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Obikuruwa |
| Features | |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Oribe Station on the Tarumi Railway; 10 minute walk to trailhead at Hōrinji Bishamontendō; 40 min hike. |
| Hours | 24/7 free; mountain |
| Time Required | 30 mins |
| Location | Motosu, Gifu Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35.50806, 136.67353 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2025 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Hōrōki | |
| Kyūtarō no Sengoku Shiro Meguri | |
| Yogo | |
