Moji Castle, Hill castle in Moji-ku district, Japan
Moji Castle sits on Mount Kojoyama at 175 meters elevation, commanding views over the Kanmon Strait that separates Honshu and Kyushu. Today the site consists of scattered stone wall fragments set among hiking trails through the forested hillside.
The site was founded in 1185 by Taira no Chikamori of the Heike clan and changed hands several times between different clans including the Ouchi, Otomo, and Mori. It was abandoned as a castle in 1617 and later transformed into a military fortress during the Meiji period.
The ruins reflect how feudal lords competed for control over this strategically important location in northern Kyushu. Visitors can see how the castle once defined territorial boundaries between different regional powers.
You can reach the ruins via hiking trails through Mekari Park, with convenient access from Kanmonkaikyo Mekari or Norfolk Square stations. The walk climbs steeply uphill through forest, so wear sturdy shoes and bring water for the hike.
When the site became a military fortress during the Meiji period, the original castle structures vanished, leaving only scattered stone fragments. These modest remains are now all that visitors can see of the fortress that once stood here.
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