Odani Castle

In detail

The 1573 siege of Odani Castle and the subsequent ousting of the Azai family marked a major turning point in the rise of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537–1598) to de facto ruler of all Japan. Hideyoshi participated in the siege as a young general under the command of Oda Nobunaga (1534–1582), a powerful warlord who unified most of Japan under his banner. Attacking the castle was a challenge, as it was built in the upper reaches of a deep valley between two mountain ridges. The castle town was designed to block attackers, making a direct assault difficult. The Azai were defeated only after Hideyoshi stealthily climbed the mountain with a small force to trap Azai Nagamasa (1545–1573) and flank him against Nobunaga’s army. Facing defeat, Nagamasa entrusted his three daughters, Chacha (1569–1615), Hatsu (1570–1633), and Gō (1573–1626), to Hideyoshi before committing suicide. The sisters would go on to play major roles in the following turbulent period that resulted in the death of Hideyoshi and the rise of the Tokugawa shogunate (1603–1867).

Today, all that remains of Odani Castle are the remnants of its stone walls, which can be reached via several hiking routes to the top of the mountain. The summit offers sweeping views of Nagahama, and on a clear day, it is possible to see Chikubushima Island, a sacred island in Lake Biwa.