Niitakayama Castle

Architecture, patrimoine et histoire · Préfecture de Hiroshima

Niitakayama Castle occupies the steep summit of Mount Niitaka (197.6 m) in Hongō, in present-day Mihara. Its granite relief, bristling with rock faces, and the Nuta River curving round its north and east sides make it a natural fortress, facing Takayama Castle, cradle of the Kobayakawa, across the valley. In 1552 the young Kobayakawa Takakage, son of Mōri Motonari and new head of the clan's main branch, rebuilt the outpost that stood here and moved his seat to it, both for its excellent view over the valley and estuary and to mark a fresh start with his retainers. The castle stretches about 400 m east to west: main enclosure, east enclosure, Raigenga-maru, Naka-no-maru, the well terrace (Tsurui-no-dan) with six wells, and west and north enclosures. Stone walls, building foundations and a rudimentary bent entrance already herald the castles of the early modern period, while a vast terrace preserves the site of the Kyōshin-ji family temple. Dismantled in 1596 in favour of Mihara Castle, it has been part of the Kobayakawa clan castle sites designated a National Historic Site since 1957.