Arato Catsle, Mountain castle in Shirataka, Japan
Arato Castle is a mountain fortress in Shirataka that sits on a ridge overlooking the Chikuma-gawa river. The site contains multiple terraced levels carved into the ridge with restored walls, gates, and residential buildings from that period.
The Yamada clan built this fortress in 1524 as vassals of the Murakami clan on the mountain ridge. By the mid-16th century, forces under Takeda Shingen captured it and the site gradually lost its importance.
The site shows how people in this region used mountain fortresses to protect and control their lands. You can still see the restored gates and buildings that reveal how these defensive structures were constructed and organized.
The ruins sit on a mountain ridge and are best reached on foot after arriving by taxi from the train station. Proper hiking shoes are important as paths can be steep, and the site is accessible throughout the year.
The fortress was strategically built on a mountain ridge itself rather than on a summit, allowing for an unusual defensive position. This placement offered protection from wind while improving views of nearby valleys and approaches to the territory.
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