When it comes to mountain castles in Yakage Town, "Sarukake Castle (猿掛城) ruins" is well known, but it seems there are still several mountain castles that are not very well known aside from the Sarukake Castle ruins.
One of them is "Kobayashi Castle (小林山城)" located in Kobayashi, Yakage Town.
Curiosity was piqued about what kind of mountain castle it was and what kind of history it had, so I decided to participate in the historical site exploration walking event "Let's Explore Kobayashi Castle."
What is the historical site exploration walking event "Let's Explore Kobayashi Castle"?
The historical site exploration walking event "Let's Explore Kobayashi Castle" was held on March 1, 2025 (Saturday) in collaboration with the Mikawa Community Center Exploration Club and Yamabiko Class.
There were 21 participants, ranging from children to seniors.
Local residents with a high interest in the geography and history of the area gathered at the Mikawa Community Center.
From here, we moved to the Nounin Temple (能仁寺) area in Kobayashi, Yakage Town, and began our ascent of Kobayashi Mountain.
Starting Point
The starting point is a square that was originally a pond.
Here, Konpira-sama (金毘羅様) and Kinosan Shrine are enshrined. Looking through the hole of the lantern dedicated to Konpira-sama, Kobayashi Mountain was visible.
Nearby, there is a signboard for the "Kobayashi Castle Ruins, Kinosan Shrine Ruins, and Nounin Temple Ruins Guide Map."
The historical sites are clearly marked, indicating that they are well cared for by the community.
That day, the harsh cold of February had eased, and the weather was mild.
While enjoying the peaceful scenery, we gradually ascended towards Kobayashi Mountain.
Nounin Temple, closely related to the region
After entering the mountain path and proceeding for a while, there was a sign that read "Nounin Temple."
Wondering, "Is there a temple in such a place?" I stopped by, and there was a dilapidated building surrounded by a bamboo grove.
Currently, it is a ruined temple, but there were several old five-storied pagodas and stone monuments. It seems that the name of the Nounin Temple area originates from this temple.
You can feel the deep connection between Nounin Temple and the local people.
Kobayashi Castle Ruins and Kinosan Shrine
We return to the Kobayashi Castle hiking trail from Nounin Temple.
The hiking trail was surprisingly well maintained.
It seems that local residents cleaned it up for this event.
After climbing about 100 meters, a torii gate appeared.
From there, as we climbed further, we soon arrived at the summit of Kobayashi Mountain, at an elevation of about 190 meters.
The summit is flat and open, and Kinosan Shrine used to be enshrined here.
It seems that rituals were held at this summit.
The elevated area is the ruins of the main keep of Kobayashi Castle. On the east side, there is a stone monument of the Kobayashi family.
Kobayashi Castle was said to be the residence of Kobayashi Matazaburo, who served Mouri Terumoto.
There were also moats and wells, indicating that it was a mountain castle with defensive functions.
Conclusion
The Kobayashi Castle ruins are an attractive mountain that evokes a sense of medieval historical romance.
At the same time, it was conveyed that the local people cherish and hold affection for it, as it enshrines Kinosan Shrine. It is a mountain that I would definitely like to visit along with the Sarukake Castle ruins.
Kobayashi Castle is about a 30-minute walk from Kinosan Shrine in the Nounin Temple area of Kobayashi, Yakage Town.
The hiking trail is well maintained, and there are no dangerous areas, but it can be slippery, so it is recommended to wear trekking shoes.
Parking is available at the Kinosan Shrine square, thanks to the kindness of the local residents.
Data on the historical site exploration walking event "Let's Explore Kobayashi Castle"
| Name | Historical Site Exploration Walking Event "Let's Explore Kobayashi Castle" |
|---|---|
| Location | 2926 Shimotakasue, Yakage Town, Okayama Prefecture |
| Homepage | Mikawa Community Center |
