Tanba Kameyama Castle

History

Akechi Mitsuhide built Kameyama Castle for his attacks on the Tanba area. In 1609, Tokugawa Ieyasu greatly renovated the castle for his attacks on Osaka Castle. Todo Takatora the greatest castle architect of his day directed the renovations and built Japan's first sotogata style main keep. The castle lasted until the Meiji Period when it was officially decommissioned. The real name of the castle is Kameyama Castle, but it is unofficially called Tanba Kameyama Castle to differentiate it from other castles called Kameyama Castle. Tanba is the old name of this area.

Visit Notes

The castle walls were reconstructed by the Oomoto Shinto Sect who claim the grounds as sacred territory. I'm not sure if there are open hours or not, but I was suggested by another castle fan to ask permission at the Miroku Kaikan (みろく会館) before exploring. When I did, they didn't seem to care if I walked around and gave me a nicely printed brochure with instructions of where to go and not to go.
城跡は大本の聖地ですが見学は可能です。石垣も大本が復元しました。みろく会館で見学の許可を求めた方がいいと聞いて先にそこを訪れました。別に許可はいらないと言われましたが、パンフレットはいただけたので良かったです。

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Gallery

Honmaru stone walls
Shachi replica
Moat
Water moat
Passageway
entrance
Moat of the Sannomaru Bailey
Ninomaru stone walls
Kokuin
Ninomaru stone walls
Ninomaru and Sannnomaru Stone walls
Ninomaru and Sannnomaru Stone walls
Honmaru stone walls
Honmaru entrance
Honmaru entrance stone walls
Honmaru stone walls
Honmaru stone walls
Honmaru stone walls
Honmaru stone walls
Honmaru stone walls
Map

Castle Profile
English Name	Tanba Kameyama Castle
Japanese Name	丹波亀山城
Founder	Akechi Mitsuhide
Year Founded	1578
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Historical Period	Edo Period
Features	water moats, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Kameoka Sta (Sagano Line); 10 min walk
Visitor Information	Private property, see notes below for details
Time Required	60 mins
Website	http://www.oomoto.or.jp/japanese/about/seichi/kameyamajyou.html
Location	Kameoka, Kyoto
Coordinates	35° 0' 48.46" N, 135° 34' 53.94" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2010
Admin Year Visited	2016
Admin Visits	December 28, 2016

1.57

(7 votes)

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ARTShogun

38 months ago

Score 1

Updated to yellow due to all of the relocated gates. I guess this castle is worth visiting for the ishigaki, but I'm still not comfortable with all of the punch-drinkers squatting on it. Maybe I'm just being prejudiced, I thought, so I did some reading on the group and the events that led to two "incidents" where the military authorities demolished their shrines, including at the castle site, and it turns out they were a bunch of facist loons, to the extent that their growing influence in the military and with the public even gave Japan's wartime rulers the heebiejeebies. Of course after the war they got the castle back and were all about world peace...

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ARTShogun

38 months ago

Score 0

A relcoated structure - a gate - is apparently located nearby but I've yet to confirm it myself. It has been turned into shop. Structures on site are all related to the Ohmoto Cult.

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SuupaahiirooAshigaru

91 months ago

Score 0

Nice castle walls. It may be a bit weird that the grounds are in hands of the Oomoto sect now, but on the other hand they are responsible for keeping the site clean and well-maintained. Worth visiting if you're in Kameoka for the yearly yamaboko festival like I was.

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ARTShogun

98 months ago

Score 1

I got chased away from the castle by cultists. I explored on top of the tall wall in the picture there, but wouldn't you know it, the omoto cult built a silly shrine there to their dead leader or something and didn't want me there. Well then they shouldn't build burial mounds where i'm exploring castles then. It wasn't even a nice mound, it was tacky and overstated. Cultists be damned, one star.

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EricShogun

58 months ago

Score 0

Haha, now I know your story about Tanba Kameyama Castle. Indeed, how rude of people to really build anything we can get into on castle sites !!

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RonSAshigaru

154 months ago

Score 0

Did you know that since 1919 this castle has been owned by the Oomoto religious sect and it is their second most important spiritual center? They call it \Ten'on-kyo"or the \""Birthplace of Heavenly Benevolence\"". After buying the property they made extensive repairs to the walls and moat."

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