Yamabuki Castle, Hill castle in Ōda, Japan
Yamabuki Castle sits atop Mount Yōgaiyama and displays stone walls, defensive towers, and dry moats characteristic of its era. The ruins spread across the slope with traces of residential areas and storage structures interspersed among the fortification remains.
Ōuchi Hiroyuki built this fortification in the early 1530s to control the valuable Iwami Ginzan silver mine operations. The castle played a critical role in protecting silver shipments and asserting regional authority during a time of constant territorial disputes.
The castle reflects military construction methods and defensive thinking of 16th century regional powers through its hillside design. Walking through the ruins, you see how warriors prepared their positions against rivals competing for control of nearby resources.
Reaching the ruins requires about one hour of hiking on forest trails that are sometimes steep and unpaved. Proper footwear and water are essential, as there are few rest spots along the route.
A carefully planned trail system guides visitors up the mountain through multiple routes, allowing different paths for the return journey. Some of these trails follow the old routes once used for moving silver from the mine to shipping points.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
