Château de Hiwasa

Hiwasa Castle is a Japanese fortification located on a forested hilltop in Minami, featuring a reconstructed main tower and defensive walls. The site overlooks the surrounding landscape and demonstrates the standard layout of a feudal-era stronghold.

The castle was built in the late 16th century under the Hachisuka clan and served as a strategic fortification during the Edo Period. It functioned as a regional administrative center under their control.

The grounds reflect traditional Japanese building design from the feudal era, showing how such fortifications served as centers of power and control. Walking through the space reveals the layout and structure that shaped daily life during that period.

The site is accessible by a twenty-minute walk from JR Hiwasa Station on the Mugi Line. The grounds are open during daylight hours for visitors to explore the fortification at their own pace.

The hilltop is home to wild monkeys and snakes that inhabit the castle grounds as their natural habitat. These animals are visible to visitors exploring the fortification and add an unexpected element to the historical site.