Gujo Hachiman Castle

Overview

Gujo Hachiman Castle is located in Gujohachiman-cho, Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture. It was once the seat of the Gujo domain. In the late Sengoku period, the area around Gujo was ruled by the To clan, who resided in Shinowaki Castle. Later, the To clan built Akayashiro Castle on Akayashiyama mountain across the Yoshida River from Gujo Hachiman town. However, they were defeated in 1559 by Endo Morikazu, who built a fortress on Ushishiroyana (later Hachiman-yama) mountain. This fortress marked the origin of Gujo Hachiman Castle. Morikazu's eldest son, Yoshitaka, became the castle lord, but was expelled after the Honno-ji Incident due to his affiliation with Oda Nobutaka, who opposed Hashiba Hideyoshi. After Yoshitaka's expulsion, Inaba Sadamichi became the castle lord in 1588 and carried out major renovations. This included digging a new moat at the foot of Hachiman-yama mountain, building a keep platform in the honmaru (main enclosure), raising the ramparts, building walls, adding armories and storehouses, digging a large well facing the blacksmith's cave, and expanding the ninomaru (second enclosure) into a residence. This laid the foundation for the Gujo Hachiman Castle as we see it today, a castle of the early modern period. After the Battle of Sekigahara, Yoshitaka was reinstated as castle lord and carried out further renovations. According to the "Yoshitaka Goissei Monosho," the castle underwent construction from spring 1601 to autumn 1603, completing "the main stone walls, triple fences, double-storied turrets, Matsumaru and Sakuramaru (inner enclosures)." The Endo clan ruled for five generations, followed by the Inoue clan (two generations), the Kanamori clan (two generations), and the Aoyama clan (seven generations). It served as the seat of the Gujo domain until the abolition of the han system. The castle was abandoned following the Meiji Restoration under the Aoyama Yukiyoshi. The following year, 1870, it was demolished, leaving only the stone walls. The current keep was built in 1933, modeled after Ogaki Castle. It's a four-story wooden replica keep, a rare example nationwide. Along with two corner turrets and a curtain wall, it's also the oldest existing wooden reconstructed keep in Japan. Today, the castle houses a historical museum where visitors can learn about the history and culture of Gujo Hachiman Castle. The keep offers stunning panoramic views of the castle town. Gujo Hachiman Castle is a recommended sightseeing spot for history buffs and those who enjoy beautiful scenery.