岡山城, Japanese castle ruins in Wakayama, Japan.
Okayama Castle was a mountain fortress in Kii Province, and its stone foundations and earthen walls remain visible on the grounds of Wakayama University Education Faculty. The surviving structures show the typical layout of multiple circular defensive areas that characterized medieval mountain fortifications.
Hatakeyama Takamasa, the provincial governor of Kii, built this mountain fortress during the Sengoku period as a defense stronghold for his territory. The site was abandoned before 1585 as political power in the region shifted.
The castle exemplifies medieval Japanese military architecture with its mountain fortification design and remaining circular baileys.
The castle site sits on university grounds and is accessible on foot, with the remains spread across an open area. You can visit anytime without restriction, though mild weather months are best for exploring the terrain.
The fortress was built and used earlier than Wakayama Castle, which later became the dominant stronghold in the region and overshadowed this older site. Today visitors often focus on the more famous castle while overlooking this predecessor.
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