Ruins Yamanaka Castle
There are the ruins of Yamanaka Castle, one of Japan's top 100 castles.
In the later part of the Age of Civil Wars (Sengoku era), the castle was built as an important base for the defense operations of the west area of Odawara Castle that was owned by the Gohojo clan during the Eiroku period (1560's).
When relations between Gohojo and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was aiming for unification of the whole country, worsened, Gohojo started to extend and reinforce the Yamanaka Castle, preparing for an assault on Odawara castle.
However, it was subject to all-out assault from the Toyotomi's Army of 70,000 warriors before its construction was completed.
It was reported that Gohojo had just 4,000 warriors, and facing and overwhelming difference in forces, the castle fell in just half a day.
Gohojo was destroyed and the castle buildings were abandoned; there are no buildings left today.
Mountain castles constructed using only soil and without stones are very rare nationwide.
The castle is famous for its "Grid-shaped moat (Shoji-bori)" and "the corrugated moat (Une-bori)" and this method of castle construction was unique to the Hojo clan.
Since the turfs in the ruins of Yamanaka Castle prevent them from weathering, it still can be kept the structure of the moat and the earthen walls for the visitors to understand at a glance.
There are two observation routes, a 60-minute course and a 120-minute course; if it is sunny, you can enjoy hiking and maybe catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji.
