he Kanayama Castle Ruins are located in Ota City, Gunma Prefecture(Google Map).
Kanayama Castle was built in 1469 by Iwamatsu Iezumi(岩松家純), and later became the castle of the Yura clan(由良氏).
Kanayama Castle was repeatedly attacked by warlords such as Uesugi Kenshin of Echigo (present-day Niigata Prefecture) and Takeda Katsuyori of Kai (present-day Yamanashi Prefecture), but it was never taken.
In 1584, Kanayama Castle was surrendered to the Hōjō clan of Sagami (present-day Kanagawa Prefecture), and after that, in 1590, it was abandoned when the Hōjō clan was defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
West-Yaguradai West-Horikiri(西矢倉台西堀切) (“Horikiri”(堀切) is a moat that cuts across a ridge to prevent the enemy from advancing to the flat ground at the end).
Ote-Koguchi (“Koguchi” (虎口)is the entrance to a castle. It is narrow and has a gate to limit the number of people who can pass through, preventing the enemy from entering. This Koguchi is a defensive stronghold that guarded the passageway leading to the main keep. The high stone wall was said to intimidate the enemy and show the dignity of the castle)
Hinoike (It is thought that ceremonies such as victory celebrations and rain-making ceremonies were held here)
