Azuchi Castle (Ruin): May 4, 2019

I visited the ruin of Azuchi Castel in Omihachiman City in Shiga Prefecture during my Nakasendo Walk.

The castle is very important in Japanese history.

It was built in 1576 by Oda Nobunaga, who lead unifying the divided nation. He is seen as a hero who opened Japan’s early modern period.

Azuchi Castle was constructed as a center of his regime.

A six-storied main tower was built on the top of Mt Azuchi of about 200-meter high. Such a big mountain castle had never been constructed before.

A town was developed under the mountain. Fewer regulations were imposed on the merchants there to encourage free trade-based business.

The castle was burned later. Only the basic stones remain today.

I climbed stone stairs from the foot of the mountain. The first 180 meter of the stairs is straight. The part is called Otemichi. Stone walls remain at the sides of the stairs. (See also the the top photo)

I sometimes stopped and looked back; then, felt the size of the castle and the stairs. (See also the 2nd photo)

The stairs started to turn left and right as I moved up.

There stands trees at the sides of the stairs. (See also the 3rd photo)

With nearly 30-minute walk, I arrived the top of the mountain. The total steps are more than 400.

The main tower was in this place.

There spread rice fields under the mountain. I could see Lake Biwa over the fields. (See also the 4th photo)

The castle stood at the side of Lake Biwa about 450 years ago.

There is a statue of Oda Nobunaga in front of the JR Azuchi station.

They provide a video show in the railway station. It gave me the images of the Azuchi Castle and the town 450 years ago. It was fantastic. (See also the 5th photo)