Shiroyama

Japanese: 城山 - しろやま

<br /> A hill made of 107m above sea level, lying in the center of Shiroyama-cho, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture. It was the castle site of the powerful Kamiyama clan during the Nanboku-cho period, and its remains, an earthwork, remain in the northwest. In 1601 (Keicho 6), the 18th feudal lord Shimazu Iehisa built his residence (Tsurumaru Castle) at the foot of the mountain on the eastern side, and Shiroyama was incorporated into Tsurumaru Castle at both the base and the top, becoming a mountain castle that protected the rear of Tsurumaru Castle. In the Seinan War of 1877 (Meiji 10), the defeated Satsuma army secured Shiroyama and attempted a final resistance, but was attacked by the government, and 159 people, including Saigo Takamori, were killed in battle. Shiroyama is also valuable from a botanical perspective, forming a typical evergreen broad-leaved forest, including large camphor trees, and distinctive ferns grow naturally within the forest. In 1931 (Showa 6), it was designated a national historic site and natural monument. Currently maintained as a park, over 600 species of subtropical plants, including camphor trees, ferns, and coral trees, grow here and can be observed along the promenade. As the final battlefield of the Seinan War, historical sites related to the war remain, including the cave where Saigo's army headquarters was located (commonly known as the Saigo Cave) and the place where Saigo Takamori died. From JR Kyushu Shinkansen and other lines at Kagoshima Chuo Station, get off at the Kagoshima City Tram "Aquarium Exit" and it is about a 10-minute walk.

Kiyama [Castle Mountain]

The remains of a mountain castle straddle Nishinosho-cho, Kawazu-cho, and Fuchu-cho in Sakaide City, Kagawa Prefecture, and Iiyama-cho in Marugame City. Shiroyama is a lava plateau rising 462m above sea level on the border between the southeast of Sakaide City and Iiyama-cho in Marugame City. After losing the Battle of Baekgang in 663 (the second year of Emperor Tenchi's reign), the Imperial Court built mountain castles from northern Kyushu to the Seto Inland Sea coast in preparation for an invasion by Korean forces. The area around the summit of Shiroyama contains remains that are believed to be Korean-style mountain castles built during the reign of Emperor Tenchi (late 7th century) along with Yashima Castle and Ono Castle in Tsukushi Province, and was designated a national historic site in 1951 (Showa 26). The entire flat area on the summit is a castle, stretching approximately 2km north to south and 1.5km east to west. There are two belt-like flat areas called " Kurumamichi " (roadways), the upper one encircles the area for 3.4 km, a little below the peak, and the lower one runs about 100 m below. Scattered throughout the mountain are remains of stonework called "Manaita stone," "Horoso stone" used as the foundation stone for the castle gate's large pillars, and stone ramparts with water gates. It is about a 15-minute drive from Kamogawa Station on the JR Yosan Line and other lines.

Source: Kodansha National Historic Site Guide Information

Japanese:

鹿児島県鹿児島市城山町の市街中心部に横たわる標高107mのシラスからなる丘陵。南北朝時代の豪族上山氏の居城跡で、その遺構として土塁が北西部に残っている。1601年（慶長6）、18代藩主島津家久が東側山麓に居館（鶴丸城）を造ったため、城山は麓も山頂も鶴丸城に組み込まれ、鶴丸城の背後を守る山城となった。明治になって1877年（明治10）の西南戦争では、敗走した薩軍が城山を確保して最後の抵抗を試みるが、政府の総攻撃を受け、西郷隆盛以下159人が戦死。城山は植物学上も貴重な所で、クスノキの大木をはじめ、典型的な照葉樹林を形成しており、林の中には特色のあるシダ類が自生。1931年（昭和6）に国の史跡、および天然記念物に指定された。現在は公園として整備され、クスノキ、シダ、サンゴジュなど600種以上の亜熱帯植物が自生し、遊歩道沿いに観察することができる。西南戦争最後の戦地として、西郷軍司令部の置かれた洞窟（通称、西郷洞窟）、西郷隆盛終焉の地など西南戦争関連の史跡も残る。JR九州新幹線ほか鹿児島中央駅から鹿児島市電「水族館口」下車、徒歩約10分。

きやま【城山】

香川県坂出市西庄町・川津町・府中町、丸亀市飯山町にまたがる山城跡。城山は標高462m、坂出市の南東と丸亀市飯山町との境界上に盛りあがる溶岩台地である。663年（天智天皇2）の白村江(はくすきのえ)の戦いに敗れた朝廷は、朝鮮勢力の侵攻に備えて、九州北部から瀬戸内沿岸に山城を築いた。城山山頂一帯には、天智天皇の時代（7世紀後半）に屋島城や筑紫国大野城などとともに構築された朝鮮式山城と推定される遺構が残っており、1951年（昭和26）に国の史跡に指定された。山頂の平坦部はすべて城郭をなし、南北約2km、東西約1.5kmという大規模なものである。「車道(くるまみち)」と呼ばれる帯状の平坦地が2段あり、上の車道は頂から少し下がったところを3.4kmにわたって取り巻き、100mほど下方に下の車道がめぐっている。山中には「マナイタ石」と呼ばれる石造加工物や城門の大柱の礎石に使われた「ホロソ石」、水門のある石塁などの遺構が点在している。JR予讃線ほか鴨川駅から車で約15分。

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