Takayama Castle (Takayama, Gifu, Japan)

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At a Glance

Takayama Castle was a hilltop castle in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, and its remains now lie within Shiroyama Park. Kanamori Nagachika began building it in 1588 on Shiroyama, a hill of about 687 metres, after Toyotomi Hideyoshi gave him Hida Province. The main and second baileys were finished by 1600, and a castle town was laid out alongside, with the Kanamori clan ruling the domain for about a century.

Nothing of the keep survives. The Tokugawa shogunate took direct control of Hida in 1695 and the castle was ordered pulled down. Traces of baileys, moats, stone walls and earthworks remain on the hill, which is a prefectural historic site and also protected as a wild bird habitat. Some buildings were moved to neighbouring temples, and the Takayama Jin'ya, the former magistrate's office, still stands in nearly original form.