Shuuchi Castle

History

Shuuchi Castle is named for the Shuuchi clan who defied Nobunaga and were subsequently destroyed by Akechi Mistuhide in 1579. Mitsuhide used this as a base for his Tanba Campaigns. The stone walls date to this period.

Visit Notes

The castle itself is fairly compact for a mountain castle following along one ridge line. The West side also had an extended fortification atop the smaller mountain next to it. This West side, from which I hiked, is a good steep climb, but the trail up from the Kototaki Waterfall and Gyokuunji Temple sounds comparatively easier. It's just a little farther and longer. It's also interesting to note that the big stone walls face this East side as well, possible assuming a major attack would come from that side up the easier climb and away from the extended fort.

Videos

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Gallery

Western Fort (dejiro)
earthen embankment
horikiri trench

Castle Profile
English Name	Shuuchi Castle
Japanese Name	須知城
Alternate Names	Ishimori-jo
Founder	Shuuchi Kagemitsu
Year Founded	1300's
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Local Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Sonobe Station (San'in Line), 15 min but to Kotatakimichi then 20 min walk to the trailhead
Visitor Information	mountain, open any time
Time Required	150 mins
Website	https://www.kyotamba.org/tourism-category/tourism-category-797/
Location	Kyotamba, Kyoto
Coordinates	35° 8' 31.88" N, 135° 26' 16.58" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2023
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2022
Admin Visits	December 12, 2022
Friends of JCastle
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RaymondWDaimyo

14 months ago

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It’s good to see this mountaintop castle profile up on JCastle. Great photos as always. This yamajiro stands out in my mind not because of its extant ishigaki but rather for my first 10 minutes on site when my wife and I came across three snakes including one that just didn’t want to slither away. Unlike you, we went on ANZAC Day nearly 8 years ago and not in prime yamajiro-hunting season during the colder months. My wife and I didn’t know there was an outlying fort which protected the western approaches to castle. After heading in, we turned right and headed up the ridge you mentioned. I guess I’ll have to go back to this castle ruin whenever I visit the Sonobe area for some castle-hunting.

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