was a Sengoku period

Sengoku period

The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...

 mountain-top castle located in the present day town of Kohoku

Kohoku, Shiga

was a town located in Higashiazai District, Shiga, Japan. The ruins of Odani Castle are located in Kohoku.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 8,745 and a density of 300.72 persons per km². The total area was 29.08 km²....

 in Higashiazai District

Higashiazai District, Shiga

was a district located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan.From the reports of 2005 Census, the district had an estimated population of 14,509. The total area was 38.53km².-Timeline:*April 1, 1971 - The village of Biwa gained town status....

, Shiga Prefecture

Shiga Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. Only the ruins remain today. It was the home castle of the Azai clan and the mountain it was built upon was considered to be impregnable. However, the castle fell during Oda Nobunaga

Oda Nobunaga

was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...

's siege in the Genki

Genki

was a after Eiroku and before Tenshō. This period spanned the years from April 1570 through July 1573. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:; 1570: The era name was changed because of various wars...

 and Tenshō eras (Siege of Odani Castle).

Significance

Odani Castle is regarded as among Japan's Five Greatest Mountain Castles, along with Kasugayama Castle

Kasugayama Castle

' was the primary fortress of the Japanese warlord Uesugi Kenshin during the Sengoku period. It is situated in what is now the city of Jōetsu, Niigata prefecture, and was originally built and ruled by the Nagao clan....

, Nanao Castle, Kannonji Castle

Kannonji Castle

The ruins of ' are located on the ridgeline of Mount Kinugasa in the town of Azuchi, Shiga Prefecture, not far from the ruins of Azuchi Castle. At the castle site, the ruins of stone walls, a stone-lined well, and an historical signboard can be found...

 and Gassantoda Castle

Gassantoda Castle

Gassantoda Castle is a mountain castle, or yamashiro, located in Yasugi, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Today, only its ruins still stand.-Significance:...

. Now it is one of Japan's nationally-designated historical ruins.

External links

• Odani Castle Sengoku Historical Museum