- Izushi Castle (Toyooka City)
- Tajima Takeda Castle (Asago City)
- Kuroi Castle (tamba City)
- Sasayama Castle (Tamba-Sasayama City)
- Arioka Castle (Itami City)
- Amagasaki Castle (Amagasaki City)
- Sumoto Castle (Sumoto City)
- Rikan Castle (Sayo-cho)
- Mikazuki Jinya (Sayo-cho)
- Ojio (Okishio) Castle (Himeji City)
- Tatsuno Castle (Tatsuno City)
- Kanjosen Castle (Aioi City)
- Ako Castle (Ako City)
- Akashi Castle (Akashi City)
The old castle, on Arikoyama Mountain at an altitude of 320 meters was built by Yamano Suketoyo in 1574, with the stone walls later renovated by Maeno Nagayasu, a retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In 1604 Koide Yoshifusa built a new castle at the base of the mountain, consisting of the Inari kuruwa, Honmaru (main), Ninomaru (second), and Sannomaru (third) compounds rising like steps of a stairs. The ridgeline of Mt. Ariko determines the line of the new castle’s fortifications, and the layout of the castle takes into account the relationship between the mountain and the foothills.
【Izushi Castle】
【Inner moat and stone walls remain】
【Mt. Ariko is seen in the background behind the Shinkoro turret】
A large clock is mounted on the Shinkoro turret,
where arrivals at the castle were once announced with the beating of a taiko drum.
【Fumotojiro (castle at the base of the mountain) / Western side of Ninomaru (second compound)】
【Fumotojiro (castle at the base of the mountain) / Road leading up to Inari kuruwa compound】
The Fumotojiro (castle at the mountain base) of Izushi Castle featured a compound known as the Inari kuruwa,
above the Honmaru (main compound) with a road leading up to it.
【View to the northwest from the Inari kuruwa】
The castle town of Izushi spreads out below.
【Stone wall on top of the mountain】
The stone wall on top of the mountain is only on the western and northern sides,
suggesting a strong awareness of the gaze of people around the castle.
【Karo Nagaya-Mon Gate outside the castle】
【Samurai residence outside the castle】
【Scenes from a castle town (part 1)】
【Scenes from a castle town (part 2)】
【Kenjo-ji Temple】
These Buddhist temples and their expansive grounds, located at key sites in the castle town,
were probably expected to function as outer citadels of the castle.
【Kyoou-ji Temple】
These Buddhist temples and their expansive grounds, located at key sites in the castle town,
were probably expected to function as outer citadels of the castle.
【South side of Mt. Ariko seen from a distance】
The height of the main castle building can be verified,
giving a hint of how the landscape once looked when the castle stood like a part of the mountain.
