Akana Castle, Mountain castle in Iinan, Japan
Akana Castle is a mountain fortress in Iinan that spreads across multiple terraces along a T-shaped ridge with stone walls reaching 20 meters in length at its central peak. The site was equipped with dry moats and clay fortifications that used the terrain strategically.
The castle was built in the 15th century by the Akana clan and became an important regional fortress. The stronghold fell in 1542 when Mitsukiyo Akana defended against a siege by the Ouchi clan.
The castle shows typical features of Japanese military architecture with its strategic design and dry moats that shaped its defense system. Visitors can still see these building methods today when they walk across the terraces.
The fortress lies in a remote area in Shimane Prefecture and requires planning to reach, as the nearest train station at Miyoshi on the Geibi Line is quite far away. Visitors should bring adequate time and proper equipment, as the terrain is steep and the paths are rustic.
The castle sits in the Chugoku Mountains where roughly nine out of ten units of the surrounding area are covered with forest and heavy winter snow falls regularly. This isolated setting deep within nature gives the place a special kind of stillness and seclusion.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
