Azuchi Castle Ruins — Attraction in Omihachiman

-very important historical site as the first fortified Japanese Castle built ( and gave it's name to the " Azuchi-Momoyama historical period" by a non-less historical character , Nobunaga Oda , one of the main figures in Japanese history who started the country's unification to end the civil war, also the first one to introduce firearms in battles in the 1500s.

This said, concerning the visit experience: in contrast to main cities and overcrowded sites , this one is almost empty/desert -the deserted place + the non reconstructed ruins within flourishing nature gives a feeling of a magical/cursed abandoned ruin ; even more with the hauling cry of "higurashi" japanese cicadas in the summer. Unique experience! -it is STEEP and stairs are made from irregular stones , stat can be slippery. Get good shoes, be in shape. The climb is longer than you expect. No vending machines or anything all along so bring your own water.

Apart the historical importance and the experience , the climb is just simply worth the view .

A map is provided at the entrance, an English one is available. There is only japanese text so I'd recommend those who can't read it to read about the history of the castle and Nobunaga before visiting to get the most out of their visit. Starting by the azuchi museums devoted to Nobunaga , but also to Al the archeological excaved remains of the castle ( this one is temporarily closed for reparations , check before your visit). The museums aren't directly nearby. If you're not driving around , it's walkable ( about 30mn from azuchi station, 30more minutes between the ruins and museum as well). There is a Tourist Information Center in Azuchi town , right next to the JR station. They give useful advices and documentations, including some English ones. They speak English if you need it There are also 2 bike rentals company right in front of the train station/tourist information office . They offer standard bikes, electric bikes and small motorized scooters. It's all flat to the castle and the 30mn walks are down to 5-10 with a normal bike , which are more than enough in my opinion.

Kids will love it ( wouldn't recommend for the...

Totally neglected by tourists and even Japanese visitors (benchmarked by uniformed school kids), the ruin is almost remote by Japanese standard, surrounded by rice paddies, in the desolate tiny town of the same name. Once the power center of this country, the castle was erected in astonishing speed and grace and grandeur, and razed to the ground in equally rapid fashion. Like its owner, the ruin is largely a forgotten place except a passing mention in history books, despite its actual significance in many ways, including being the first castle with an elaborately elevated main keep that inspired all following constructions of grand castles.

Nothing really prepares one for the hike to the castle ground. It is simply a difficult and humbling climbing of these difficult stone steps that would've trembled the knees of visiting lords at the time. It is also intriguing to see the site of hashiba hideyoshi's residence, at the bottom of the hill, signifying his relative low status in Oda's ranks, making his future rise to power even more amusing.

After the painful hike one would arrive at the castle ground to find a postmortem memorial for Oda Nobunaga himself. Compared to his retainer toyotomi and subordinate daimyo Tokugawa, it is an ironic and also all-too-common reminder of the man who almost unified Japan.

Having seen castles like Himeiji and Osaka, I could imagine how majestic and formidable this castle once was yet how easily it collapsed once the owner sacked.

The ruin is hard to reach by foot from Azuchi train station where even taxis are rare to be found. Renting a bike is the best way, taking less than 15min to ride there, through the serene rice paddies.

There was less than 20 visitors at the entire site in the morning when we visited, contrasting with the tens and hundreds of thousands at Osaka castle and nijo castle among others. The park facilities are basic and borderlining ran-down, and the chaya at entrance is more like shed from a poor provincial village in 1593.

More the reason why true fans of history should pay homage to this corner...

I've been to over 50 castles in Japan. They want 700 yen for this one. One the most expensive entrance fees for any J-castle. And there are only ruins. No castle to maintain, no people working here that need a salary. I just came from Inuyama castle. Massive castle. Lots of people working there to help you and guide you along the way. Fans in some of the hotter parts of the castle. It's was only 400 yen.

What also annoys me is I am collecting the 100 castle stamps list. This was number 18 for me. Every castle lets you get the stamp for free except for 3 (up to the this point in collecting). One of the other castles was only 200 yen to get in to get the stamp... So, whatever. The other was Inuyama castle, but why go there and not go in? And then, this place. I asked money collecting person if I could please just use the stamp and they said "no, 700 yen."

The entrance fee is too high. There is no attached or adjust castle park like many have. No extras at all like many of the free or cheaper castles or castle parks have.

And ZERO English. The name of the castle on the main entrance isn't even in Romanji. Zero zero English.

All the signs for info and directions are rotting and falling apart, or have just fallen down and are laying in the dirt. I even overheard a Japanese family saying they couldn't read the explanations. What is my 700 going towards?!

AND to top it all off, the drinks in the vending machine are about 30-40 yen higher...