岩村城
Iwamura Castle
Overview
Iwamura Castle in Gifu Prefecture, at 717 m elevation, is one of Japan's Three Great Mountain Castles and the highest castle site in Japan, nicknamed the 'Castle in the Mist.' Founded in 1203 by Katō Kagenori, a close retainer of Minamoto no Yoritomo, it became the stronghold of the Tōyama clan of Tōnō. The castle is especially famous for its 'female castle lord' — Lady Otsuya, aunt of Oda Nobunaga — who managed the domain after her husband's death, but later married Takeda general Akiyama Nobutomo and switched allegiance. The enraged Nobunaga recaptured the castle in 1575–76 and executed both Lady Otsuya and Akiyama by crucifixion, in one of the Sengoku era's most dramatic betrayals. The surviving stone walls, especially the six-tiered wall on the south side, are exceptional examples of Edo-period castle construction.
Connection to Swords
Iwamura Castle's eastern Mino (Tōnō) region lies within the cultural sphere of Mino-den swordsmanship, one of the Five Great Traditions, centered on the city of Seki. Mino swords — renowned for their practical 'won't break, won't bend, cuts well' qualities — were favored by Sengoku warlords throughout the region. The castle's most dramatic episode, involving Lady Otsuya and Takeda general Akiyama Nobutomo, was played out amid some of the fiercest Sengoku fighting, where Mino and Kōshū (Yamanashi) blades clashed in battle. The Battle of Nagashino (1575), which effectively ended the Takeda cavalry era, was a pivotal moment in the transition from sword-based warfare to firearms, and Iwamura Castle was caught at the very center of this historical shift. The Iwamura Historical Museum exhibits related arms and blades.
Highlights
- Six-tiered stone walls — the dramatic southern honmaru walls
- Sea of clouds in autumn/winter — castle ruins floating in morning mist
- Female castle lord Lady Otsuya historical sites
- Iwamura castle town (Important Preservation District) — sake breweries and old merchant houses
- Ena City Iwamura Historical Museum — arms and swords from the castle's history
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.
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