Koriyama Castle (Hiroshima)

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Yoshidakoriyama8.jpg

History

The earliest origins of Koriyama Castle are unknown, but there are some indications that the Mori had a Yoshida Castle here in the 1300's. it seems likely that it was the old Koriyama Castle or Koriyama Honjo Castle on a southeastern ridge. The castle was expanded in the 1500's to the castle you see today covering most of the mountaintop and the side facing the town. It had stone walls around the central compound, buildings with clay tiled roofs and residences for high ranking retainers and soldiers. The vast mountain fortress was like a combination of a Sengoku Mountaintop Castle and later castles that combined military functions, political power and residences for the lord and retainers. In 1540, the Amako, who had been steadily amassing power attacked the castle with over 30,000 soldiers. The 3,000 defenders held out for four months until a relief force from the Ouchi arrived with 10,000 men. Another force from the Shishido also arrived to turn the tide against the Amako. Amako Hisayuki was killed in battled as the Amako took heavy losses and eventually retreated a month later.

Koriyama castle was abandoned in 1591 when the Mori moved to their new castle, Hiroshima Castle.


Visit Notes

This is a huge mountaintop castle. The main compound is at the peak with numerous smaller baileys going down each of the ridges radiating out from the top. Look at the map here in the brochure or the map below with the pinned photos for an idea of this. Around the Honmaru and Ninomaru at the top you see the remains of stone walls all over. There is also a sub castle or smaller set of castle ruins on the southeast slope which was the site of the original castle from which the vast mountain fortress expanded.

The trails through the main parts are easy to follow and it is very well signposted making it enjoyable and understandable even for inexperienced mountain castle fans. The walking is fairly easy for a mountain and I saw people who were not dressed for typical mountaintop castles. That being said, you can also go off trail down some of these ridges to see smaller baileys and trenches too. If you want to see the old castle ruins the trail is steep and slippery so you need good shoes and a trekking pole would be nice. I saw some people turn back, but it's worth the trip down.

I had originally planned for about 3 hours on site and thought I could visit another castle this day, but I ended up spending over 5 hours exploring everything I could. Instead of visiting another castle I went to the Akitakata City Museum which turned out to be surprisingly good. There was a lot of information about the castles in the Akitakata area and I picked up a booklet of maps and details for 60 of them.

There are actually several different ways to get to the castle. The route I gave above seems to be the best for someone traveling from Hiroshima. You can also take a 15 minute taxi from the Mukaihara Sta. (Geibi Line) or other combinations of trains and busses.


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Gallery
  • Okurayashiki
  • Foot of the mountain near the entrance
  • Entrance to the castle ruins
  • Yagenbori trench
  • Grave site of Mori Motonari and family
  • Okurayashiki Stone Wall
  • Okurayashiki Bailey
  • Honmaru stone walls
  • Honmaru stone walls
  • Tsurui-no-dan Bailey
  • Stone wall ruins of the Honmaru
  • Left is the side of the Honmaru and Ninomaru. On the right is a well.
  • Himenomaru Bailey
  • A side bailey off the Himenomaru
  • Small Bailey of the Himenomaru
  • Side of the Honmaru
  • Kanaya-no-dan, a series of baileys off a NE ridge
  • Kanaya-no-dan
  • Kanaya-no-dan
  • Kanaya-no-dan Horikiri trench
  • Hagonomaru Bailey
  • Umaya-no-dan baileys
  • Umaya-no-dan baileys
  • Umaya-no-dan baileys
  • Umaya-no-dan baileys
  • Umaya-no-dan baileys
  • Umaya-no-dan baileys
  • Stone wall remains
  • Sannomaru Stone wall remains
  • Sannomaru Stone wall remains
  • Sannomaru Stone wall remains
  • Sannomaru Stone wall remains
  • Entrance
  • Okurayashiki
  • Stone wall ruins
  • Sannomaru Bailey
  • Sannomaru Bailey
  • Ninomaru Bailey
  • Honmaru Bailey
  • Honmaru Bailey
  • Earthen embankment
  • Honmaru stonewall ruins
  • Honmaru stonewall ruins
  • Honmaru stonewall ruins
  • Stone wall ruins
  • Well
  • Stone wall ruins
  • Stone wall ruins
  • Stone wall ruins
  • Sedamari-no-dan
  • Sedamari-no-dan
  • Sedamari-no-dan
  • Small Bailey
  • Horikiri Trench
  • Horikiri Trench
  • Side bailey
  • Ozakimaru Bailey
  • Horikiri trench
  • Honmaru of the Old Castle
  • Honmaru of the Old Castle
  • Honmaru of the Old Castle
  • Honmaru of the Old Castle
  • Old Castle bailey
  • Old Castle bailey
  • Old Castle bailey
  • Stone wall remains at the base of the castle
  • Kanaya-no-dan Horikiri trench
  • Map
  • Map
  • Map


Castle Profile
English Name Koriyama Castle
Japanese Name 郡山城
Alternate Names Yoshida Koriyama-jo
Founder Mori Clan
Year Founded 14th C.
Castle Type Mountaintop
Castle Condition Ruins only
Designations Top 100 Castles, National Historic Site
Historical Period Pre Edo Period
Features trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access Yokogawa Sta (San'yo Line) 80 min bus to Yoshida Elementary School, 15 min walk to trail head
Visitor Information Mountain, open any time
Time Required 300 mins
Website https://akitakata-kankou.jp/touristspot/462/
Location Akitakata, Hiroshima Prefecture
Coordinates 34° 40' 25.03" N, 132° 42' 34.24" E
Loading map...
Admin
Added to Jcastle 2019
Contributor Eric
Admin Year Visited 2018
Admin Visits November 9, 2018


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ARTShogun

50 months ago
Score 1++
That grave picture is incredible.

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