Minakuchi Okayama Castle Ruins

Built in 1585 on orders from Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Minakuchi Okayama Castle was the first tiled-roof stone fortification in the area, said to have astonished local residents. Its construction ended the system of cooperative self-governance the Koka ninja community had maintained for generations, bringing the region under centralized authority. In 1600, the castle was attacked during the power struggle that brought Tokugawa Ieyasu to power, and the resident lord fled. It was later dismantled. Only fragments of stone wall remain, and the site is now a park with a city panorama from the summit. It is a National Historical Site, a 15-minute walk from Minaguchi Station.