Iwakisan Kōgoishi, Mountain fortress in Hikari, Japan
Iwakisan Kōgoishi is a mountain fortress on Mount Iwaki, equipped with multiple defensive gates and ancient water management systems. The site spreads across different elevations of the mountain and connects several strategic positions together.
The fortress was built after Japan's defeat at the Battle of Hakusukinoe in 663 AD and used construction techniques brought by Baekje people from the Korean Peninsula. These building methods influenced the development of fortress architecture in the region.
The fortress demonstrates the evolution of Japanese military architecture, shifting from wooden structures to stone fortifications during the medieval period.
The site is reachable through local mountain paths, with a roughly 90-minute walking route connecting the West Water Gate, North Water Gate, and North Gate. Good footwear and weather protection are recommended on the uneven paths.
The stone fortification contains Kutsuisu, a large foundation stone at the North Gate displaying exceptional masonry craftsmanship from the Asuka period. This specialized stone is a rare example of the construction skill and artistry of that early era.
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