Iwamura Castle

Iwamura Castle, located atop Shiroyama Mountain in the southern part of Ena City, Gifu Prefecture, sits at an elevation of 717 meters, making it one of the highest-positioned honmaru (main enclosure) sites among surviving Japanese domain castles. Together with Takatori Castle in Nara Prefecture and Bitchū Matsuyama Castle in Okayama Prefecture, it is regarded as one of the “Three Great Mountain Castles of Japan” and is also counted among the “Three Mountain Castles of Gifu.” The castle site is not far from Iwamura Station on the Akechi Railway’s Akechi Line, and today still preserves impressive stone wall remains that convey the grandeur of the former mountain fortress.

According to tradition, Iwamura Castle was built in the early Kamakura period by the Iwamura Tōyama clan, retainers of the Kamakura shogunate. Owing to the frequent mists and clouds surrounding it, it was nicknamed Kiriga-jō (“Castle in the Mist”). In the late Sengoku period, its strategic location made it a focal point of conflict between the Oda and Takeda clans, during which the tragic tale of the “Lady Castle Lord Otsuya no Kata” took place, adding a legendary touch to its history. In the Edo period, Iwamura Castle became the political center of the Iwamura Domain and was gradually fortified into a robust early modern castle.

Although most of the castle buildings no longer remain, the tall stone walls and winding approach routes still give a vivid sense of its once-formidable defenses. In spring, fresh greenery and in autumn, colorful foliage enhance the beauty of the stone walls, while misty conditions create a dreamlike atmosphere, making Iwamura Castle a well-known spot that blends historical ambiance with natural scenery.