When it comes to mountain castles in Yakage Town, the ruins of Sarukake Castle are well known, but apparently there are several other mountain castles that remain little known.
Kobayashiyama Castle, in Kobayashi, Yakage Town, is one of them. Curious about what kind of mountain castle it was and what history it had, I joined the historic-site exploration walk, “Explore Kobayashiyama Castle.”
The information presented was current when this article was published in March 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What Is the Historic-Site Exploration Walk “Explore Kobayashiyama Castle”?
The historic-site exploration walk “Explore Kobayashiyama Castle” was held on Saturday, March 1, 2025, jointly hosted by the Mikawa Community Center Exploration Club and Yamabiko Class.
The 21 participants ranged from children to seniors.
People from around town with a keen interest in local geography and history gathered at the Mikawa Community Center.
From there, we traveled to the Noninji area of Kobayashi, Yakage Town, and climbed Kobayashiyama.
Starting Point
We started at an open space that was once a pond.
Konpira-sama and Kinosan Shrine are enshrined here. Looking through a hole in a stone lantern dedicated to Konpira-sama, we could see Kobayashiyama.
Nearby is a signboard with a “Guide Map to the Kobayashiyama Castle Ruins, Kinosan Shrine Ruins, and Noninji Temple Ruins.”
The historic sites are clearly marked, showing how carefully they are maintained by the community.
The bitter cold of February had eased that day, and the weather was mild.
Enjoying the peaceful scenery, we made our way up the gentle slope toward Kobayashiyama.
Noninji Temple, Deeply Connected to the Community
After entering the mountain path and walking for a while, we came across a sign reading “Noninji Temple.”
Wondering, “Is there really a temple in a place like this?” we stopped by and found an abandoned building surrounded by bamboo groves.
The temple is now closed, but there were several old gorinto stone pagodas and stone monuments. The area is said to have been named after Noninji Temple.
You can sense the deep ties between Noninji Temple and the people of the area.
Kobayashiyama Castle Ruins and Kinosan Shrine
From Noninji Temple, we returned to the Kobayashiyama Castle hiking trail.
The trail was remarkably well maintained.
We were told that local residents had cleaned it up especially for this event.
After climbing about 100 meters, we came to a torii gate.
From there, it was only a short climb to the summit of Kobayashiyama, at an elevation of about 190 meters.
The summit is gently sloping and open. Kinosan Shrine was once enshrined here.
It is said that religious ceremonies were held at this summit.
The raised area is the site of Kobayashiyama Castle’s main bailey. There is a stone monument to the Kobayashi family on the east side.
Kobayashiyama Castle is said to have been the residence of Kobayashi Matasaburo, who served Mori Terumoto.
Its dry moats and well suggest that it was a mountain castle equipped with defensive features.
From the Writer
Kobayashiyama Castle Ruins is a fascinating mountain where you can feel the romance of medieval history.
At the same time, the presence of Kinosan Shrine shows how much the local people cherish and care for the area. It is a mountain well worth visiting, along with Sarukake Castle Ruins.
Kobayashiyama Castle is about a 30-minute walk from Kinosan Shrine in the Noninji area of Kobayashi, Yakage Town.
The trail is well maintained and has no dangerous sections, but it can be slippery, so hiking shoes are recommended.
Thanks to the kindness of local residents, visitors can use the open space at Kinosan Shrine for parking.
Historic-Site Exploration Walk “Explore Kobayashiyama Castle” Information
| Name | Historic-Site Exploration Walk “Explore Kobayashiyama Castle” |
|---|---|
| Location | 2926 Shimotakasue, Yakage Town, Oda District, Okayama Prefecture |
| Website | Mikawa Community Center |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a search term to find articles on this site
