Gifu Castle

Gifu Castle, formerly known as Inabayama Castle, was the seat of Lord Saito Dosan during the Warring States period. What made the name Gifu Castle known throughout the realm was that in August 1567, in the 10th year of the Eiroku era (or, according to one account, in the 7th year), the incomparable hero Oda Nobunaga captured the castle, pacified the surrounding region, and renamed the area from “Inokuchi” to “Gifu,” making it his base for unifying the nation.

The present castle was reconstructed in July 1956 by the Gifu Castle Reconstruction Promotion Alliance. The interior houses a historical materials exhibition room, and the upper floor is used as an observation deck, making it popular with many visitors. In addition, the entire Kinka Mountain area was designated a National Historic Site in 2011 as “Gifu Castle Ruins.”

Among existing castles, Gifu Castle stands at one of the highest elevations, at 329 meters above sea level. From the top floor, visitors can take in a sweeping view of the clear Nagara River, famous for cormorant fishing, flowing through the city below; to the east, Mt. Ena and Mt. Ontake rise majestically; to the north, the Norikura range and the Japanese Alps stretch across the horizon; to the west, the Ibuki, Yoro, and Suzuka mountain ranges extend in succession; and to the south, the broad Nobi Plain opens up richly, with the Kiso River flowing gracefully into Ise Bay.

Gifu Castle Ruins consist of the castle area on the mountain summit and the residence area at the foot of the mountain. The approach routes connecting them, the fortifications placed at key points in the mountain, and above all the mountain itself, all functioned as a natural stronghold. The historical value of the Gifu Castle Ruins can be summed up in the following three points:

▸ It was the castle where Lord Oda Nobunaga established his base for unifying the country.
Nobunaga’s later Azuchi Castle is said to mark the beginning of early modern castle architecture, and at the Gifu Castle Ruins, elements such as stone walls and rows of huge stones can be seen, revealing construction techniques that foreshadow the early modern period. The Gifu Castle Ruins are therefore an important site in Japanese history, marking the transition from the medieval to the early modern era.

▸ Detailed records remain, including those of the Portuguese missionary Luís Fróis.
The Gifu Castle Ruins were visited by Luís Fróis and Yamashina Tokitsugu, among others, and their records provide insight into aspects of the castle’s structure. It is a rare site in that descriptions in historical documents can be compared with the archaeological remains.

▸ Valuable garden remains have been discovered, making it an important site in the history of Japanese gardens.
At the Oda Nobunaga residence site at the foot of the mountain, not only rows of huge stones but also the surrounding bedrock and other natural landforms were skillfully incorporated, creating an overall design intended to be visually impressive. Among the garden remains, the pond discovered in the innermost area has been noted for its similarities to the Higashiyama Palace (present-day Ginkaku-ji) in Kyoto, based on the pond’s structure and location, suggesting an aspect of inheriting the traditions and authority of the shogunate.

▸ Historic Site Gifu Castle Ruins Conservation and Utilization Plan
Before Lord Saito Dosan built the castle, Kinka Mountain (Inabayama) was known as a scenic place celebrated in poetry and as a mountain of faith closely associated with Inaba Shrine, and it is thought to have formed the basis for a castle being built there. In other words, because it was a special mountain shaped by rich nature and long regarded as a subject of worship and scenic beauty, it came to be used as a castle site in the Warring States period. Even after the castle was abandoned, it was used as a place for visits by the Owari domain lord and for deer hunting, and in modern times it became a mountain for leisure and recreation together with Gifu Park. Thus, Kinka Mountain, as the site of the castle ruins, has held many values beyond the castle ruins themselves, including nature, faith, scenery, and its role as a park.

Taking into account the historical changes and layered value of Kinka Mountain, Gifu City formulated the “Historic Site Gifu Castle Ruins Conservation and Utilization Plan” in December 2021 to ensure that it will be protected and passed on to future generations. Going forward, we hope to continue working together with local residents on the preservation and utilization of the Gifu Castle Ruins (Kinka Mountain), a cherished treasure of the region.