Yamaga Castle Park in Ayabe City, Kyoto Prefecture, is one of the "200 Best Nature Spots in Kyoto" because you can enjoy the nature of the park year round, with plums and cherry blossoms in spring, fresh greenery in summer, and autumn leaves in autumn. The park holds the "Sakura Festival" on Sundays in early April every year, where you can hear Yamaga drums being played, buy local specialties, and try to catch fresh rice cakes or "mochi" in the "mochimaki" ritual where mochi is tossed out over the gathered crowd. In addition, the autumn leaves are beautiful in mid-November adding color to the garden and the restored castle gate.
The park is not only a great place to enjoy nature, but to learn about history. Yamaga Castle was the home of the Waku family, a great family during the Edo period but it was attacked by Akechi Mitsuhide. After the castle fell, a camp was set up by Moritomo Tani, who was ordered by Hideyoshi Toyotomi to be the lord of the Yamaga domain. The site of the camp is now maintained as a park and the second floor of the restored castle gate holds a Yamaga Museum and has materials related to the Tani Clan including armor and ancient documents. What’s more, on the north side of the park are the remains of the castle moat.
- Address
- 〒629-1256
76 Uenomachi, Hirose-cho, Ayabe City, Kyoto Prefecture - Access
- Train: Get off at "Yamaga" station on the JR Sanin line and walk for 20 minutes.
Bus: From “Ayabe” station on the JR Sanin line, take the Aya bus (Kanbayashi line) and get off at “Yamaga,” then walk for 15 minutes.
Car: Take Route 27 into Ayabe City, turn right at the "Yamaga Castle Ruins Park" sign that stands along the mountain side road, and head west. - Business Hours
- Open 24 hours
- Price
- Free
*Advanced Reservations Required to Visit the Museum - Parking
- Available
Number of regular vehicles: 7 spaces available
