Ogurayama Castle, Mountain fortress in Kitahiroshima, Japan
Ogurayama Castle is a mountain fortress built on a 460-meter hill at the northern end of the Oasa Basin. The site covers several hundred meters in each direction with multiple defensive sections separated by dry moats and earthen walls.
The fortress was built during the Nanboku-chō period by Kikkawa Tsunemi and served as a stronghold for several generations. After 1550 the Kikkawa clan shifted their power base elsewhere.
The fortification represents the military architecture of medieval Japan with its horseshoe-shaped ridge, three northern enclosures, and two western defensive positions.
Visitors can reach the ruins with a 15-minute walk from Umeyama Station. Entry is free year-round.
The site was designated a National Historic Site in 1986 and preserves original features like earthen walls and building foundations. Despite its military past, the location is today a quiet place where you can see medieval architecture firsthand.
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