Château de Hira

Hira Castle is a fortified hilltop site near Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture with stone walls and preserved foundations. The grounds reveal the layout and structure of this medieval Japanese military installation.

The Kuroda clan built the fortress in the early 16th century and held it as a regional stronghold. Oda Nobunaga seized control during his 1568 military campaign that reshaped the political landscape.

The castle site reflects medieval Japanese fortification design, with structures positioned to watch over the surrounding territory. Walking through the ruins, you can see how these placements created an interconnected defensive system.

Multiple hiking trails with varying difficulty levels guide visitors through the site. Informational panels along the paths explain the structures and their historical role in the region.

The site contains a network of smaller forts that worked together as an integrated defensive system. This arrangement shows how medieval Japanese commanders created layered protection across the landscape.