玉城, Mountain castle in Sekigahara, Japan.
Yushiro is a mountain castle located at 307 meters elevation in Sekigahara, featuring layered defensive structures. The location combines natural steep slopes with engineered moats and earthen walls that formed a strong fortification.
The fortress was built in 1332 during a period of intense conflicts between rival rulers in Japan. It operated under the control of Satake Yoshiharu, who strategically positioned it to survive that tumultuous era.
The castle demonstrates how Japanese communities used mountaintop locations to protect their territories and maintain watch over surroundings. People climbed here to observe the movement of goods and travelers on the routes below.
The site sits on a steep mountain, so bring sturdy footwear and allow time for hiking. The trail ascends from the Eco-Museum Sekigahara, where parking is available at the base.
The main area of the castle stretched from northeast to southwest and offered sight lines over both major trade routes in the region. This prominent position allowed its rulers to monitor all commercial traffic passing through.
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