- 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)
This medieval mountain castle extends along ridges in three directions, with its center atop the 356 m Mt. Inokuchi. Ogino (Akai) Naomasa became lord of the castle in 1554 and was expanding his power, but when Akechi Mitsuhide invaded Tamba, rule passed to Saito Mitsutoshi, father of Lady Kasuga no Tsubone. The remains of stone walls on top of the mountain are thought to date from later castle construction, but they were erected only on the side visible from the castle town below, illustrating the tendency of castles to show off their might to the public.
【Kuroi Castle】
【Old castle town / New cityscape】
【Kozen-ji Temple at the foot of the mountain (part 1)】
The temple hints at the atmosphere of the castle lord’s residence, which once stood at the foot of the mountain.
【Kozen-ji Temple at the foot of the mountain (part 2)】
The temple hints at the atmosphere of the castle lord’s residence, which once stood at the foot of the mountain.
【View from the mountain】
The surrounding landscape changes continuously as you ascend the mountain.
【Stone walls on the mountaintop】
Imposing nozurazumi (rough field stone) walls remain on top of the mountain.
The corners of the walls are early examples of sangizumi construction.
【Looking down on the Ninomaru (second compound) from the Honmaru (main compound)】
【Looking up from the Ninomaru (second compound) at the Honmaru (main compound) atop stone walls (part 1)】
【Looking up from the Ninomaru (second compound) at the Honmaru (main compound) atop stone walls (part 2)】
