Hachiōji Castle, Mountain castle in Hachioji, Japan
This mountain fortress rises above the valley of Hachioji and spreads its grounds across several terraces shaped by narrow paths and stone walls. Today you can still make out the ditches and earthworks while individual foundations emerge under the canopy of maple and oak.
The site arose in the late sixteenth century as a bulwark against western campaigns and fell after a short siege to a force from the south. Following capture it quickly lost importance and decayed over the centuries.
The name honors Hachiman, an old war deity whose shrine now stands near the ruins. Hikers visit both sites and blend their climb with a moment of quiet before the wooden torii gates.
From Takao Station a bus brings you to the cemetery stop, where a trail climbs roughly twenty minutes uphill to the summit. The path can turn slippery after rain, so sturdy footwear and enough water for the climb are advisable.
Excavations in the sixties uncovered small clay balls that served as projectiles for slings and show an early form of ranged combat. Among the finds lay a hexagonal stone whose purpose remains unclear to this day.
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