# Sawayama Castle

- **Country:** Japan
- **Coordinates:** 35.279500, 136.268925
- **Location Text:** Hikone, Shiga

Sawayama Castle was a historically significant fortress located in the city of Hikone within Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Serving as a crucial military stronghold in the former Ōmi Province, the site dates back to the Sengoku Period when it was held by the powerful Azai clan. Following the decline of the Azai, control of the castle passed to notable warlords Niwa Nagahide and eventually Ishida Mitsunari in the late 16th century. The structure played a pivotal role during the decisive Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, where it was attacked by Kobayakawa Hideaki. Despite a brave defense mounted by Ishida Mitsunari's father and brother, the garrison surrendered after only half a day of fighting.

After the battle, the castle was occupied by Ii Naomasa, who made the strategic decision to dismantle the complex entirely. Most of its stone walls and architectural components were transported to construct the nearby Hikone Castle, leaving Sawayama largely erased from the physical landscape. Today, the site exists primarily as ruins marked by a sign indicating its former location, with only fragments of stone walls and the base of the main keep remaining visible. While no original buildings survive, the area has been repurposed as a recreational destination featuring a hiking course that leads to the summit of Mount Sawayama.

Visitors who traverse the trail are rewarded with panoramic views encompassing Lake Biwa and the surviving Hikone Castle, offering a unique perspective on the region's feudal history. The location serves as a quiet reminder of the turbulent Sengoku era and the rapid shifts in power that defined Japanese history. Although the castle itself is gone, its legacy persists through historical records and the enduring presence of the mountain landscape that once supported such a vital defensive position for some of Japan's most famous samurai clans.

![Photo of Sawayama Castle](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/The%20Mt%20Sawa%20is%20looked%20at%20from%20Hikone%20Castle%20Shiga.jpg)

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