Château d'Inamishiro

Inamishiro Castle stands on the foothills of Mount Yaotome at 143 meters elevation, covering an area of 250 meters east-west and 230 meters north-south with three main baileys and massive earthen ramparts.

Built around 1484 by Renjo of Zuisen-ji Temple as a fortified Buddhist stronghold, the castle was later captured by Sassa Narimasa under Oda Nobunaga's forces in 1579 and abandoned during the Edo period.

The castle ruins preserve significant Buddhist heritage through Zuisen-ji Temple connections and feature the legendary Usuranami Well, along with a 500-year-old cedar tree and various stone monuments marking its religious importance.

Designated as a municipal historic site in 1955, the castle remains are accessible by public transportation with free parking available, and visitors can explore the well-preserved earthworks, baileys, and turret platforms throughout the year.

The castle uniquely combines Buddhist temple fortification with traditional Japanese castle architecture, featuring masugata gates and defensive earthworks that demonstrate the fusion of religious and military purposes in medieval Japan.

GPS coordinates: 36.55944,136.97417

Latest update: July 25, 2025 19:52