Azuchi Castle, Mountain castle in Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Azuchi Castle is a ruined mountain fortress on Mount Azuchi in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, where stone foundations and wall fragments spread across several terraced levels. The highest point sits at roughly 200 meters (650 feet) above sea level and reveals the layout of a complex that once rose through multiple floors.
Oda Nobunaga began building the seven-story wooden fortress in 1576 and moved into it a few years later as his residence. It burned down in 1582, shortly after the attack in which Nobunaga died, and was never rebuilt.
The ruins preserve the memory of a time when castle architecture served not only military purposes but also as a statement of power and artistic ambition. Visitors today experience how the community regards the site as a symbol of historical transformation and the connection between warfare and aesthetic design.
Access requires a roughly 25-minute walk from Azuchi Station, and visitors should be prepared for some steep sections along the path. Parking is available for those arriving by car.
This fortress is considered the first in Japan to integrate a large multi-story central tower that once reached about 46 meters (150 feet) in height. Each floor was painted in a different color, making its appearance markedly different from other fortifications of the time.
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