Gifu Castle

Gifu, Japan, Japan

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Gifu Castle, originally known as Inabayama Castle, is a mountaintop fortress situated on Mt. Kinka in Gifu, Japan.

It was first built in the early 13th century by the Nikaidō clan and later expanded significantly by the Saitō clan during the 15th century. The castle gained prominence under the warlord Oda Nobunaga, who captured it in 1567 and renamed it Gifu Castle, using it as his headquarters to begin his campaign to unify Japan.

The castle features steep stone walls, defensive moats, and a commanding location offering panoramic views of the surrounding area. Although the original structure was mostly destroyed around 1600 during the Battle of Sekigahara, a reconstructed concrete replica of the main keep was built in 1956.

The current castle houses a museum displaying artifacts related to Nobunaga and the castle’s history. Gifu Castle remains an iconic symbol of the region’s Sengoku period legacy and feudal history, attracting many visitors with its blend of history and scenic beauty.