Chihaya Castle, Mountain fortress in Chihayaakasaka, Japan
Chihaya Castle spreads across multiple terraces along a mountain ridge with steep cliffs and rivers forming natural defenses on both sides. The ruins today reveal the layout of a medieval hill fortress built to control the surrounding terrain.
The fortress was built in 1332 by Kusunoki Masashige as part of his resistance against the Kamakura shogunate. It endured multiple sieges that tested its defensive position and strategic importance during medieval Japan's power struggles.
The grounds feature a Shinto shrine honoring Kusunoki Masashige and his military legacy. Visitors can see how this location remains a place of remembrance connected to medieval Japanese warfare and strategy.
Reaching the castle requires climbing approximately 500 steps along a mountain path to the ridge. The ruins are open to the public and protected as a National Historic Site, allowing visitors to walk through the grounds freely.
Defenders used straw figures dressed in armor to deceive attacking forces at the fortress. This creative deception demonstrates the resourceful tactics used during medieval Japanese warfare.
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