Sakamoto Castle Ruins Park – A Lakeside Castle Site Connected to Akechi Mitsuhide

【Highlights】
・A park surrounding the ruins of Sakamoto Castle, built by Akechi Mitsuhide on the shores of Lake Biwa.
・A historic Sengoku-period castle site, once said to rival all but Azuchi Castle in magnificence.
・A statue of Akechi Mitsuhide within the park, with castle ruin monuments scattered throughout the surrounding area.
・Stone wall remnants that sometimes emerge from Lake Biwa during periods of low water.

【History and Culture】
Sakamoto Castle was built on the shores of Lake Biwa by Akechi Mitsuhide under the command of Oda Nobunaga, shortly after the burning of Enryaku-ji in 1571. It is said to have been a magnificent castle, second only to Azuchi Castle, and also served as an important stronghold controlling lake transportation.

In 1582, following the Honno-ji Incident and the subsequent Battle of Yamazaki, Sakamoto Castle fell to an attack by Hashiba Hideyoshi’s forces. While it is regarded as a pioneering example of early modern castle design, no surviving illustrations depict its appearance, and for centuries it remained something of a “phantom castle,” its true form unknown.

Today, a monument marking the castle ruins stands near the site, and a statue of Akechi Mitsuhide can be found within the park. In what is believed to have been the castle grounds, Akechi-zuka—a mound said to hold a memorial to Mitsuhide—also remains. When Lake Biwa’s water level drops, the castle’s stone walls sometimes emerge from the water, making this a place where visitors can trace the legacy of the Sengoku period while walking along the lakeshore.