Ishigakiyama Castle

Ishigakiyama Castle is a hill fortification in Hayakawa, a town within Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture. The site spreads across terraces linked by paths and retains its wide stone ramparts and open platforms that offer views over the coast and the valley below.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered the fortification built in 1590 during his campaign to subdue Odawara, positioning his forces and intimidating the enemy. Workers hauled stones from the valley and completed the walls in under three months.

The castle became the first stone fortification in the Kanto region, demonstrating advanced engineering techniques through its stone masonry and strategic defensive layout.

The castle is reached by hiking trails that climb from Hayakawa Station in roughly 50 minutes or from Iriuda Station in about an hour. The paths are mostly unpaved and require sturdy footwear, especially after rain.

The fortress earned the nickname One-Night Castle because Hideyoshi had wooden frames and fences erected on the summit and surrounding trees felled in a single night. This trick was meant to surprise the defenders of Odawara and create the impression of a finished fortification.

Location: Hayakawa

Inception: 1590

Part of: Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles

GPS coordinates: 35.23531,139.12699

Latest update: December 20, 2025 11:48