Visiting the site of Hitoyoshi Castle

We arrived at the site of Hitoyoshi Castle (人吉城跡) at 1 o'clock. We stopped our car in the city hall parking located in front of the castle. Before that, we had a lunch in the car. We've already bought breads near my home, so we ate some. After lunch, we had planned to go to the castle, but my mom doesn't want to go. So I went to there alone.

== Summary ==
The castle is located on the south side of Kuma River running through the city center, it has been built in the mountain of the confluence of its tributary Munekawa River. Using its own nature, the north and west sides are as natural moats, and the south and east sides are used as natural walls of its cliff and slope of the mountain. Arranged San-no-maru along to the Kuma River, Ni-no-maru to the south, and the castle keep on the hill. There has been a Gomado (Fire Offering Hall) of the castle at the keep instead of the tower.

Climbing up the steep stone stairs, you'll see the stone walls. Located in the center picture, Musha-gaeshi (武者返し) wall is the unique one that was built at the end of Edo period, called Bakumatsu (幕末) in Japanese.  It was borrowed from the medieval fortification technology from Europe and adopt it. The musha-gaeshi warrior-back wall is piled up with slightly protruding flat stones at the top of the castle, as well as to stop jumping over walls like a counter attacking. This wall is adapted to be allowed to fall it down easily. It also has been able to use to attack the enemy that sticks to walls.

The site of Ni-no-maru (二の丸) outer citadel. In 1871, the abolition of the han system forced the abandonment of the castle. Many of the buildings inside the castle grounds were taken down or moved to other locations.

Hitoyoshi panorama from Ni-no-maru.

I'm posting one more picture, the Kuma River from the Mizunote Bridge at the entrance of the castle. It's the best place to take photos in Hitoyoshi. Hitoyoshi Onsen hotsprings in the center picture, and there is an area in foreground made by a sandbank. It has been developed over the years, and become a parking for visitors now.