Odani Castle Sengoku Historical Museum

Odani Castle Sengoku Historical Museum is a history museum located at the base of Mount Odani in Nagahama displaying items excavated from the former castle site. The collection includes weapons, Buddhist ornaments, maps, illustrations, and detailed scale models of the castle complex.

The museum opened in October 2007 and documents the Azai clan who ruled Odani Castle until their military defeat in 1573 by Oda Nobunaga. The exhibits cover this turning point in the region's history and how it reshaped the political landscape.

The rooms contain everyday objects and documents from samurai families that reveal how people lived during the Warring States period. You can see artifacts that show the relationship between rulers and the local population they governed.

The museum sits at the mountain's base, allowing visitors to tour the exhibits before potentially hiking to the castle ruins above. Combined tickets are available that cover both this facility and the nearby Azai Folklore Museum for those wanting to explore more.

The museum preserves archaeological finds from one of Japan's five greatest mountain castles, originally built at an elevation that provided tactical advantages to its defenders. This strategic position made it one of the most difficult fortifications to capture during its era.

Location: Nagahama

Official opening: October 2007

Website: https://eonet.ne.jp/~odanijou-s

GPS coordinates: 35.45261,136.26947

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:23