- Type
- Ruin
- Origins
- 1443 · 15th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Location
- Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
- Commissioned by
- Yamana Sōzen
- Visiting
- probably – Wikidata lists it as a museum or gives tickets, opening hours or visitor numbers; check before you go
- Coordinates
- 35.3005°, 134.8290°
History
According to tradition, the castle on the summit of Mount Kojō, high above the Maruyama River valley in Tajima Province, was built in 1443. The work is said to have been led by Ōtagaki Mitsukage, a vassal of the powerful Yamana Sōzen, who was tightening his grip on the region. In 1577 the stronghold fell to the troops of Hashiba Hidenaga, brother of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, during the campaign against the clans of western Japan. From 1585 the castle was held by Akamatsu Hirohide, who is credited with building the present dressed-stone walls. After the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 Hirohide was forced to commit seppuku, and the castle was abandoned, never to be lived in again.
What to see
No buildings survive, but the stone walls are almost complete and run some 400 metres along the ridge, marking out the baileys and the base of the former main keep. A path climbs from Takeda railway station, and there is a shorter walk up from the car park. The most famous view is from the opposite slope at the Ritsuunkyō lookout, where on autumn mornings the ruins seem to float above a sea of clouds.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q8013060
Popularity: articles about this site in 12 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).