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A mountain castle widely known as the main castle of the Warring States daimyō, the Anko clan. Centered around Mt. Tsukiyama, the site of the main bailey, it is configured with numerous baileys on a U-shaped hill, making it a formidable military stronghold. After the fall of the Anko clan, it was taken over by the Mōri clan, and after the Battle of Sekigahara, it was occupied by the Hori clan. Later, the castle was moved to Matsue and was abandoned in 1615 due to the One Castle per Province decree.
Today, remnants such as stone walls and moats are preserved, designated as a national historic site, one of Japan's 100 Famous Castles, and part of Japan Heritage cultural properties. Standing tall are the statues of Anko Kiyomasa, revered as one of the "Three Great Strategists of Chūgoku," and Yamauchi Shikasuke, who was loyal to his lord and dedicated to revitalizing the Anko clan.
There are several hiking routes to the summit, taking about 60 minutes. The treacherous military road from the Yamaguchi Goten-daira to the summit is known as "Nanamagari," a difficult section. The "Taiko-dan," which was used for timekeeping and signaling to retainers during emergencies, has now become a famous cherry blossom viewing spot.
