Mihara Domain, Japanese castle ruins in Mihara, Japan
Mihara Castle is a Japanese castle ruin in Mihara that stretched approximately 1 kilometer along the Akuhara River with a depth of about 600 meters from north to south. The original structure featured 32 corner towers and 14 gates that formed an intricate defensive system.
Kobayakawa Takakage built the castle in 1567 at the mouth of the Nuta River, using small islands to create a strategic naval base for the Mori clan. This location allowed the clan to strengthen control over the region and monitor ships and trade routes.
The site controlled the Sanyodo trade route, directing travelers through designed pathways bordered by stone walls and water channels. Visitors walking through the ruins today can still sense how this strategic positioning shaped movement through the area.
The ruins sit directly beside Mihara Station and are accessible via the Sanyo Shinkansen, Sanyo Main Line, and Kure Line rail services. Free admission to the site makes it an easy destination to visit for anyone exploring the area.
The foundation platform for the main keep remains the largest among all Japanese castles, yet the keep itself was never completed during the castle's operational years. This unfinished structure reveals how ambitious building plans were sometimes interrupted by historical events.
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