Oni no Shiro (鬼ノ城) West Gate

Flow of the course

About this spot

An ancient mountain castle built on the summit of Mt. Oniki (elevation approximately 397 meters), designated as a National Historic Site. Built as a Korean-style mountain castle in the late 7th century, it features restored castle walls extending approximately 2.8 kilometers and castle gates including the West and South gates. Walking the trail from the Visitor Center takes about 30 minutes to reach the West Gate, where you can enjoy both the stone-stacked castle walls winding along the mountainside and the grand panoramic view of Kibi Road spreading below at once. The vast scale as an ancient military facility and the spectacular landscape overlooking Kibi Road make it one of Soja's representative attractions. Summer's rich green foliage creates beautiful contrast with the stone walls.

Tips

About 15 minutes by car from Komori Mound Kofun. Free parking available next to the Visitor Center. Running shoes required for mountain trails. In summer, bring a hat and plenty of water as heat stroke precautions. Obtaining a map at the Visitor Center makes the walking trails easier to navigate. Considering travel to the fireworks venue in the evening, plan to return to the parking lot by 4:30 PM.

Best time to visit

Approximately 2 hours required. The view from the mountaintop in the afternoon light offers the widest vista of Kibi Road.

Access & map

〒719-1105 Okayama Prefecture, Soja City, Kuroo