[Explanation]
Bitchu Matsuyama Castle is a mountain castle in the present Takahashi city, Okayama prefecture. Alongside Takatori Castle of Gifu Prefecture and Iwamura Castle of Nara Prefecture, it is counted as one of Japan’s three major Oyama castles. The castle is situated at the summit of 430 m above sea level and is known as an outcast tower which is the highest in the Japan.

In the Sengoku Era, Mimura governed the castle, which is frequently attacked by “Utaka Naoie” based on Okayama Castle. In the first year of Genki (1570), Ukita Uji was robbed of his castle, but the castle was recaptured again under the protection of Mouri. After that Mouri is moving away from Rihan towards Oda.

Because of this, Mouri attacked the owner “Mimura Motohiro” at the time of the attack and self-harmed and the castle fell. After that, it becomes a castle that Mouri will rule. Keicho 5th year (1600), When the battle of Sekigahara broke out, Mouri was drastically eliminated, Kobori was assigned as a castle guard to Matsuyama Castle, and then it becomes “Ikeda’s” territory.

In the Edo Era, Mizugaishi, Ando and Ishikawa replace the castle owner, finally “Itakura” of Daimyo Tokugawa family entered at 50,000 Jewels and approached the end of the Edo Period. The castle consisted of Inner Citadel, Outer Citadel and Outermost region of the castle, and since the political affairs at the summit were inconvenient during the Edo period, they placed the palace at the foot of the mountain, where they took residence and political affairs of the lords.

The current “Bitchu Matsuyama Castle” is designated as an important cultural asset of the country and a historical site of the country, and it restores main staff maintenance and many towers and gates. It has also been selected for 68th Japan No. 100th National Castle.

The “Yamada Valley” of the government who reformed the Bichuu Matsuyama domain at the end of the Tokugawa period is also famous for a youmei scholar.

[Address,access]
Takahashi City Okayama 1 Okayama prefecture 7116-0004

[Map]

[Explanation]
Takatori is one of Japan ‘s three major mountain castle in Takatori Town, Takaichi ward, Nara Prefecture. Ochi, who was a soldier who responded to the Moriyo Shishin in the Southern Dynasty Era, is believed to be a construction builder. When entering the Sengoku Era, Oda Nobunaga established Yamato Ichikuni’s “Tsutsui Junkei” as a foundation for the castle and fulfilled its role.

When the Tsutsui family was transferred in the Era of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Yamato Ichikuni became the place to be governed by Hideyoshi Toyotomi (brother of Hideyoshi). In Takatori Castle, Hidenaga’s chief vassal Honda family was appointed as a castle owner, and at this time real improvement as a modern mountain castle took place. Honda had no inheritance and changed ranks afterwards, and Kuwayama, Koide, served as castle guards.

In Kanei 17th year (1640), the direct vassal of the Tokugawa family “Uemura family” was appointed castle owner and given 25,000 Jewels. Uemura had dominated the area throughout the Edo period, but at the end of the Tokugawa period, they were attacked by Tenchuu army, led by “Torataro Yoshimura” of the Tosa clan.

However, thanks to the natural strategic position they skillfully repulsed them. In the Meiji Restoration as it Meiji Era was approaching, when the castle was abandoned, a castle decree was issued nationwide and Takatori castle was demolished. Stonewall are often used for the structure of the castle, and in particular the high stone walls are stunning. There are castle tower/small temples made of Mie in the inner citadel, many turrets and bending wheels are also many many hearing towers are connected with the small tower and formed the body of the modern castle.

The current Takatori Castle is designated as a national historic site, and it is also selected as the 61st castle among 100th National Castle of Japan.

[Address,access]
Kamishige 20-2, Takatori town, Takaichi ward, Nara Prefecture

[Map]

[Explanation]
Iwamura castle was a mountain castle that was located in Iwamura in Gifu prefecture. Iwamura domain’s Hancho (domain administration building) was also there during Edo period. It was also called Kiriga castle (fog castle) since the area was famous for fog. Honmaru existed at the highest point above sea level, 717m, compared to all of the other castles in Japan, so the castle is considered as one of Japan’s three largest mountain castles.

Kagekado Kato, Minamoto no Yoritomo’s vassal, received Mino no Kuni’s Tosanso, and his son Kagetomo continued to govern this place as Iwayamatoyama-shi until Sengoku period.

※Iwamura castle was originally located at the lower point of the mountain peak, but its Honmaru was built on top of the mountain during Sengoku period for protection.

Kageto Toyama was the owner of Iwamura castle when the Oda family and Takeda family continued to fight there during Sengoku period, and his wife was Nobunaga’s aunt. In 1571 when Kageto died, Nobunaga Oda sent his 5th son, Katsunaga Oda, to the Toyama family to strengthen their relationship. Kageto’s wife was the owner of the castle since Kageto’s death, but the castle was attacked by Nobutomo Akiyama who was on Takeda’s side, leading her to surrender and marry Nobutomo Akiyama.

Nobunaga who was furious at this outcome attacked Iwamura castle, and Nobutomo Akiyama and Kageto’s wife were killed. After that during Oda and Toyotomi era, the owner continued to change from the Mori family to the Tamaru family, and to the Matsudaira family, and when the Matsudaira family was the owner, Ienoru Matsudaira moved the main part of the castle to the foot of the mountain and established the castle town.

Niwa-shi became the owner in 1645, and in 1792 the Ogyumatsudaira family became the owner after Niwa-shi was transferred after having a family problem, until Meiji period.

※38th castle of Japan’s 100 famous castles

[Address,access]
98 Iwamuracho, Ena-shi, Gifu

[Map]