Ibayama Castle

History

Though details are unknown, the fort may originate with the Iba Clan who built it as a mountain redoubt for the protection of their main estate on the plain below. The site is one of several between Sasōjō and Kannonjijō along the same ridge and may have been incorporated as a small satellite fort into the network of fortifications surrounding Kannonjijō.

See my profile on Iba Castle for more information.

Visit Notes

Ibayamajō is a minor yamajiro (mountaintop castle) located on the ridge between Sasōjō and Kannonjijō. Though seemingly a small fort site, the shukuruwa (main bailey) is surrounded by dorui (earthen ramparts). The shukuruwa is about 100m by 40m. There is evidence of terracing of the mountain slope beneath the shukuruwa to the east. The koguchi (main gate) is situated above this obikuruwa (belt bailey). The castle's footprint is actually thought to be quite large but its outer fortifications are hard to delineate - or they were for me, at least. I didn't fail to notice the very obvious remains of a kofun (ancient burial mound) along the trail, however. The ridge which continues on after the shukuruwa looks like it has been flattened in places and I identified some tatebori (climbing moats), but I probably only covered a small fraction of the castle site. The castle ruins extend south along the ridge and to the north toward Inoko.

Gallery

Main bailey

Castle Profile
English Name	Ibayama Castle
Japanese Name	伊庭山城
Founder	Iba Clan
Year Founded	Medieval Era
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Kuruwa, Obikuruwa, Koguchi, Dorui, Tatebori
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Hike from Sasou Castle
Visitor Information	24/7 free; mountain
Time Required	20 minutes
Location	Higashi-Ōmi, Shiga Prefecture
Coordinates	35° 10' 9.12" N, 136° 9' 47.95" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2022
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed
Friends of JCastle
Jōkaku Tanbō
Masaki Shibata

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