ABOUT
About this spot
Chihaya Castle in Chihayaakasaka Village, the only village in Osaka Prefecture, is a historic castle built in the late Kamakura period by the brilliant strategist Kusunoki Masashige. The Siege of Chihaya Castle, in which he held out against the shogunate's huge army with ingenious tactics, is famous and is passed down as one of the highlights of the classic Taiheiki. No castle buildings remain today, and Chihaya Shrine stands quietly on the castle site, but the terrain, ringed by sheer cliffs, lets you feel its once impregnable defenses. Reaching the site means climbing about 600 steep stone steps, which gives it the big appeal of a little mountain-climbing adventure. The stillness waiting at the top and the sunlight filtering through the trees will soothe your tired legs. Why not combine it with a serious hike up Mt. Kongo for a walk that lets you feel the breath of history? The nature is beautiful in every season, and the autumn foliage season is especially lovely.
Last updated March 30, 2026