Japanese Castle guide in Japan castle Historical site Statue Introduction.

[Castle name]
Kannonji Castle
Kannonji Castle was where Sasakigen-shi’s descendant, Yoshikata and Yoshiharu Rokkaku resided. It was destroyed by Nobunaga Oda’s battle of Joraku.

[Explanation]
Kannonji Castle was a typical mountain castle that was based at current Omihachiman in Shiga prefecture. It was where Sasaki-shi, Omi Shugo (Military Governor of Omi Province), resided and later, Sasaki-shi was called Rokkaku-shi.

The construction period is unknown, however, the tall stone walls, moat, and Kuruwa were remodeled when the owner was Yoshikata Rokkaku during Sengoku period.

In 1568, when Mitsukuri Castle, a branch castle of Kannoji Castle, was destroyed in a day during Nobunaga Oda’s battle of Joraku, the Rokkaku family decided to run away from Kannonji Castle. After that, Yoshikata and Yoshiharu Rokkaku cooperated with the Asai family to fight against Nobunaga, but they were never able to go back to Kannonji Castle.

When Nobunaga built Azuchi Castle on the same ridge as Kannonji castle, Kannonji castle was completely demolished. There was a two story palace in Honmaru, and in 2006 it was registered as the 52nd castle of Japan’s 100 famous castles.

[Address,access]
Azuchicho Ishidera, Omihachiman, Shiga

[Map]