- Type
- Ruin
- Origins
- 1469 · 15th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Location
- Gunma Prefecture, Japan
- Coordinates
- 36.3178°, 139.3775°
History
The castle on wooded Mount Kanayama, in the old Nitta clan lands of Kōzuke Province, was founded in 1469 by Iwamatsu Iezumi. In the late 15th century power passed to his retainers of the Yokose family, later known as the Yura, who ruled the area for nearly a century, manoeuvring between the Uesugi, the Takeda and the Hōjō. The castle withstood a series of sieges, but in 1584 the Hōjō took it from the Yura. After the fall of the Hōjō in 1590 it was abandoned. The site was designated a historic site in 1934, and excavations since the 1990s have uncovered stone walls and ponds, which have been partly reconstructed.
What to see
Forest paths lead to the summit past dry moats and the terraces of former baileys. The highlights are the reconstructed approach by the main gate, laid with stone steps and lined with walls, and the stone-lined Hi-no-ike pond. The Nitta Shrine, dedicated to Nitta Yoshisada, stands on the summit, and at the foot of the mountain is a visitor centre designed by Kengo Kuma.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q1038062
Popularity: articles about this site in 11 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).