🗺️ Hachioji Castle Ruins八王子城跡

The ruins of Hachioji Castle were built by the Hojo clan when they established their base in Odawara. Hachioji Castle was constructed by Hojo Ujitsuna to strengthen the defenses of the main castle, between 1582 (Tenshō 10) and 1587 (Tenshō 15). It is one of the more well-preserved mountain castles from the Sengoku period and was designated as one of the "Japan's 100 Famous Castles" in 2006. It is said that Ujitsuna enshrined the Hachioji Gongen, a deity worshipped in the area during the Heian period, as the guardian deity of the castle during its construction. Hachioji Castle is located in a strategically rugged mountainous area, but it was captured by the armies of Maeda Toshiie and Uesugi Kagekatsu during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaign in Kanto in 1590 (Tenshō 18). The fall of Hachioji Castle led to the opening of Odawara Castle and the downfall of the Hojo clan. Today, along the foothills, there are ruins such as the Oshitune Shrine, restored stone walls, the tiger mouth entrance, and the site of the main keep at the mountain's summit, with a one-way hike to the top taking about an hour. There are also remains of "kuruwas," which were used to prevent enemy invasions and attacks. The "Hachioji Castle Ruins Guidance Facility" provides maps and guided tours, and it is recommended to take a walk before heading to the summit.

The ruins of Hachioji Castle, which was once a branch castle of the Odawara Hojo clan. At the top of the mountain, there are the remains of the main keep and Hachioji Shrine, named after Hachioji. It has been selected as one of the "Japan's 100 Famous Castles." It takes about one hour to walk from the entrance of the castle ruins to the top of the mountain.