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10．The Castle Where the Demon Resides (Asuka Period – Nara Period)
Mt. Kinojo, looks southward over the assumed land of Bicchu Kokufu(provincial headquarters). In 1971, the base of the stone wall that lines the summit was identified as what might be the remains of an ancient castle in the mountains. Many investigations followed after that, and Kinojo’s (Castle of the Demon) dignity became evident.
Made of rammed earth that stretches as far as 2.8km, the castle wall contains a gate at each cardinal direction, with flood gates built at each of the six points that cross over the valleys. Much was found in the 27 hectares of land that make up the inside of the castle walls, including buildings constructed on base stones believed to be storage rooms and administration buildings, blacksmith workshops for making iron tools, and also excavated pottery from the end of the seventh and beginning of the eighth centuries.
Today, the west gate, watch towers and castle walls are restored, showing what the ancient states looked like when bracing for war with external entities and domestic reign.
