Wakayama Castle

The castle's appearance is worthy of the three top branch families of the Tokugawa clan. The castle was first built in 1585 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's younger brother, Hidenaga. The work was handled by Todo Takatora, who was a master of castle construction. In 1619, the 10th son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Yorinobu, enter the castle and it became the base for the province which boasted 555,000 koku (koku is a size of the land expressed in the weight of rice that could be produced). From that time, as one of the three top Tokugawa-related families, along with Mito and Owari, Kishu began its long history.

Eunji Temple

Its history begins when Yamamoto Zusho Masaharu, who was closely related to Yamamoto Kansuke, first built “Taihozan Kogonji Temple” to pray for long lasting luck in battles for the Kishu Tokugawa family and the first domain lord, Tokugawa Yorinobu. Then it was renamed to Eunji, and became a temple that prays for good luck, sound health, world peace, and happiness for all people, rather than just for the Tokugawa family. As there is a grave of Natori Sanjuro, the author of one of the three greatest ninja skill books, “Kishu Ninjutsu & Shoninki,” the temple also offers shakyo sutra tracing experience

Honganji Temple Saginomori Betsuin

This was the stronghold for the disciples of Hongwanji Temple based in Saika (current Wakayama Prefecture). Men of Saika were devout followers of Hongwanji, and supported the temple when it had to rise up and defend itself from the attack of Oda Nobunaga. When you enter the main hall, you’ll face the altar that enshrines the principal deity Amida Nyorai. On both its sides are fusuma screens with the drawing of herons, which is where the name of this area, Saginomori (sagi means heron), derives from.

SHONINKI

A ninja skill book written in 1681 by Natori Masazumi, an expert in military studies in the Kishu Domain. It is believed that it was not only used for ninja education, but also taught to apprentices as a part of Natori’s military studies. It is said to be one of the three greatest ninja skill books, along with Mansen Shukai and Shinobi Hiden. Eunji has launched a “Shoninki reading club” to apply the mindset of Shoninki in the present day.

Yanomiya Shrine

The trumpet shell believed to have been used by Saika Magoichi in battles is stored here to this day. It has long been said that Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto is enshrined here. According to “The Kii Zoku-fudoki,” a collection of local records from the late Edo period (around 1780-1850), the shrine came to be called “Yanomiya” because this deity is an ancestor of the Yada clan.

Mount Myoken (Saika Castle Ruins)

It is said that Saika Castle was the stronghold of the men of Saika, built by the father of Magoichi, Suzuki Sadayu. It was also known as Myokensan Castle because it was built on Mt. Myoken whose altitude is about 32 meters. Although there are no definitive remains that show there used to be a castle, there is a vast stretch of flat land called “senjo-jiki (1,000 tatami mats)” at the mountaintop, and it is believed the castle was built here.

Akibayama (Morokujisan) Castle Ruins

This is where the Ikko sect of the Kii Province based their activities until Hongwanji Saginomori Betsuin was built. It’s a castle where the Battle of Saika took place. Saika Magoichi, the leader of the Saika men who cooperated with the Ishiyama Hongwanji Temple and resisted Oda Nobunaga, set up the headquarters at this castle. The observatory at the mountaintop offers a sweeping view of the surrounding area, including the Wakayama Castle. Since historical sources on Hashiba Hideyoshi’s Attack on the Kii Province in 1585 do not refer to this castle, it is believed that it was deserted after the Battle of Saika.

Ota Castle Ruins (Raikoji Temple)

The Ota Castle, also called Maizuru Castle, was the residence of the Satake clan for some 470 years. The castle came to be called “Maizuru Castle” (maizuru means flying cranes) because when the third generation of the Satake clan, Takayoshi, took over the castle, cranes were flying over the castle. The Battle of Ota Castle (Flood Attack on the Ota Castle), one of the three major flood attacks in Japan, took place at what is now the Ota Castle Ruins. In a battle against Hashiba Hideyoshi’s force with over 100,000 soldiers, approximately 5,000 Saika men barricaded themselves in the castle, and were hit by the flood attack.