Shimizu Mountain Castle, Mountain fortress in Takashima, Japan
Shimizu Mountain Castle is a mountain fortress in Takashima with stone walls and stepped defensive levels spread across the hillside at 206 meters above Lake Biwa. The layout uses the natural slope to create multiple layers of protection.
The fortress was built in 1235 by Sasaki Takanori and held by the Takashima clan until Oda Nobunaga's forces took it in 1572. This shift ended its time as an independent stronghold.
The castle layout shows how medieval Japanese warriors built fortifications, with layers of trenches and walls that guided movement through the fortress.
Access to the ruins is through the Shin-Asahi Forest Sports Park, which offers free parking for visitors. The climb up is steep and uneven, so sturdy shoes are recommended.
The northern ridge displays a series of parallel trenches that served as defensive channels, showing careful military planning from the medieval period. Few visitors notice how these trenches were aligned to control movement through the fortress.
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