米子城
Yonago Castle
Présentation
Yonago Castle, completed in 1601 by Nakamura Kazutada, was the largest castle tower in the San'in region of its era, rising 22 meters above Minatomachi Hill at 90 meters elevation. The castle commands sweeping views of the Yonago Plain, Nakaumi lagoon, and Mount Daisen (Hōki Fuji). The castle town became San'in's greatest commercial city, thriving on North Sea Route trade and iron distribution from the iron-rich Izumo and Iwami hinterlands. This iron trade fostered skilled metalworkers including swordsmiths. The surviving stone walls across multiple baileys convey the castle's former scale, and ongoing excavations continue to reveal new findings.
Lien avec les sabres
The region around Yonago Castle is the heartland of Japanese swordsmithing materials: the iron-rich San'in coast produced the finest tamahagane (sword steel) through traditional tatara iron smelting, and Izumo's Yasugi Steel remains the world's finest specialty steel to this day. Most importantly, Hōki Province (modern western Tottori) was home to Hōki Yasatsuna — the legendary late-Heian smith who forged Dōjigiri Yasatsuna, one of the 'Five Greatest Swords of Japan' (Tenka Goken), now a National Treasure at the Tokyo National Museum. Medieval Hōki-mono (Hōki-tradition) swords are among the most prized ancient blades. Yonago Castle served as the commercial hub through which this precious iron and steel flowed to swordsmiths across Japan.
Points d'intérêt
- Honmaru stone walls — extensive surviving fortifications conveying the castle's former scale
- View of Mount Daisen and Nakaumi lagoon from the keep platform
- Yonago City San'in History Museum — Yonago and Tottori domain swords, armor, excavation finds
- Sakaiminato Mizuki Shigeru Road (approx. 15 min by car)
- Kaike Onsen hot springs overlooking the Sea of Japan (approx. 10 min)
- Mount Daisen hiking (highest peak in Chūgoku region; approx. 30 min by car)
* Les horaires d'ouverture et les tarifs sont susceptibles de changer. Veuillez consulter le site officiel avant votre visite.
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