Kaneda Castle, Korean-style mountain fortress in Tsushima, Japan
Kaneda Castle is a fortified site on a hilltop in Tsushima, Japan, where stone ramparts wind along the ridge for a considerable distance. The walls still stand tall in several places, showing the scale of the original construction.
The fortress was raised after Japan's defeat in the Battle of Baekgang to protect the island from potential attacks coming from the Korean peninsula. Later, during the Meiji era, a coastal battery was built on the site and remained in service until the early twentieth century.
The construction techniques used in Kaneda Castle reflect the strong influence of Korean fortress architecture on Japanese defensive structures during the 7th century.
Visitors reach the ruins after walking uphill from the trailhead, passing through wooded terrain. Exploring the full site and walking along the wall sections takes several hours and requires good stamina.
Some sections of the walls still show the original grooves and notches left behind when the stone blocks were shaped. These craft marks reveal how builders in the seventh century cut and fitted the heavy stones together.
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