Nirayama Castle, Mountain fortress in Izunokuni, Japan
Nirayama is a hillside fortress in Izunokuni with stone walls, moats, and tiered platforms built into the slope. The compound shows several levels connected by narrow passages and steep drops.
Ise Moritoki built the fortress in 1493 as a base for the Hojo clan, who controlled the region. Toyotomi Hideyoshi's forces took it in 1590 after a long siege.
The name comes from the old Nirayama district, where paths now lead visitors through terraces that once separated different ranks of warriors. People walk the same routes that guards used to move between defense lines.
The paths cross uneven ground with steps and steep sections, so sturdy shoes help. Panels stand at key points and explain the function of each area.
During the siege, 3,600 defenders held off attacks from roughly 50,000 soldiers for a hundred days. The long resistance shows how effective the hillside layout and tiered defenses were.
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