# Oka Castle

- **Country:** Japan
- **Coordinates:** 32.969217, 131.408069
- **Location Text:** (ja), Taketa, Ōita

Oka Castle is a historic yamajiro-style mountain castle situated atop Tenjinyama Hill in Taketa, Oita Prefecture, Japan. Strategically positioned at a crossroads of major routes across Kyushu, the fortress overlooks the confluence of the Inaba and Tamaki rivers, providing natural defenses and control over western Bungo Province. The extensive ruins stretch approximately 2,500 meters from east to west on a hill rising 95 meters above the surrounding basin. While the exact date of initial fortification remains uncertain, local legend attributes its construction to Ogata Koreyoshi around 1185 as a stronghold for Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Historical records indicate that the Shiga clan, a branch of the powerful Otomo family, significantly expanded the site in the fourteenth century and officially named it Oka Castle to defend against rival clans in neighboring Higo Province.

Throughout the Sengoku period, the castle played a pivotal role in regional conflicts involving the Otomo and Shimazu clans before eventually coming under the control of the Nakagawa clan during the Edo period. Today, the site exists as well-preserved archaeological ruins rather than a reconstructed building, featuring impressive stone walls that have withstood centuries of weathering. Recognized for its cultural value, Oka Castle was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 2023. It is currently open to the public as a park and historical landmark, offering visitors walking trails through the ancient baileys and panoramic views of the city below. The location remains a significant testament to medieval Japanese military architecture and the turbulent history of feudal Kyushu.

![Photo of Oka Castle](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Okajoshi.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oka_Castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)