三原城
Mihara Castle
Überblick
Mihara Castle was built in 1567 by Kobayakawa Takakage — third son of Mōri Motonari and one of the Sengoku era's finest naval commanders — on the shores of the Seto Inland Sea in Hiroshima Prefecture. Known as the 'Floating Castle' (Ukishiro) because high tide made it appear to rise from the water, it served as the headquarters for the Mōri clan's western naval power. The castle's stone walls and donjon foundation survive as a National Historic Site, famously visible from passing Shinkansen and conventional trains at Mihara Station.
Verbindung zu Schwertern
Kobayakawa Takakage was a sophisticated collector as well as a commander — his collection reportedly included outstanding Bizen Osafune blades, which were easily accessible via the Seto Inland Sea trade routes. The Mihara castle town supported a community of swordsmiths who supplied the naval forces with practical fighting blades: short wakizashi and tantō suited to the cramped confines of boarding combat. Takakage's role in the Korean campaigns (1592–98) exposed his forces to intense close-quarters fighting that tested both men and metal. Mihara Castle stands as a monument to the integration of naval power, mercantile prosperity, and sword culture in western Japan.
Sehenswürdigkeiten
- The 'Floating Castle' stone walls and donjon base (National Historic Site) — once washed by tidal sea water
- Visible from the Shinkansen — stone walls rise immediately beside JR Mihara Station platforms
- Kobayakawa Takakage heritage — stronghold of one of Japan's greatest naval commanders
- Castle park hilltop views — panoramic views over Mihara city and the Seto Inland Sea
- Seto Inland Sea island excursions — ferry access to Sagi Island, Ikuchi Island, and beyond
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