Nagurumi Castle, Castle ruins in Minakami, Japan
Nagurumi Castle is a castle ruin in Minakami, Japan, set on steep rocky cliffs where two mountain rivers meet. The site includes several levels with earthworks, watchtower positions, and a main enclosure that once held wooden buildings.
The Numata clan built the fortress in 1492 as an outpost against neighboring territories. In the late sixteenth century it changed hands several times and became the scene of fights between powerful regional families.
The castle carries a name meaning "wooded ridge," referring to the forested slopes that surround it. Visitors today walk paths through terraced walls and defensive earthworks that show how sixteenth-century warlords used mountain terrain.
A visitor center provides information about the site and a model showing its original layout. The climb follows narrow trails that can become slippery after rain, so sturdy shoes are recommended.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the three great unifiers of Japan, led an army here in 1590 after a regional dispute escalated. This conflict helped him consolidate control over the eastern part of the country.
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