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Tall stone walls stacked on top of the cliffs at Oka Castle, with mountains beyond, 2009. All the buildings were torn down in the Meiji era; only the stone walls remain.
As6673Public domainWikimedia Commons

Oita · Taketa

Oka Castle

岡城

Taketa, Oita

CastleMountain castle (yamajiro)Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 93

What makes this castle distinctive

Stone walls on a clifftop, without a single building left, are said to have inspired Taki Rentaro's song "Kojo no Tsuki" (The Moon over the Ruined Castle).

Why?

Every building at Oka Castle was torn down in the Meiji era, leaving only the stone walls. Composer Taki Rentaro spent part of his boyhood in Taketa, and he is said to have drawn on memories of playing among these ruins when he wrote "Kojo no Tsuki" in 1901. A statue of him still stands in the second enclosure, looking out over the distant mountains.[2][4]

Three things not to miss

01

The towering walls of the third enclosure

Where
On the cliff edge from the north side of the third enclosure (sannomaru) to the second enclosure (ninomaru).
What to look at
The way the wall zigzags along the cliff like an open folding screen.
Why it's interesting
Bending the wall let defenders shoot at attackers from two directions, a technique called yokoya-gakari. Because these tall walls sit on top of what were already sheer cliffs, this is the best place to understand why the castle was called impregnable.[3][1]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideAdmission required. There are no fences on top of the walls, so stay well back from the edge.
02
The site of the main gate (Otemon), January 2010. The gate building is gone, but the stone walls on both sides and the foundation stones remain.HeartoftheworldCC BY-SA 3.0Wikimedia Commons

The main gate site and the "kamaboko stones"

Where
The castle's front entrance, at the top of the slope from the ticket office.
What to look at
The stones along the main approach whose tops are rounded into an arch, like a loaf of kamaboko fish cake.
Why it's interesting
The official site likens the shape of the main gate's walls to a European castle. The rounded stones along the approach, nicknamed kamaboko-ishi, are described as one of Oka's unique features, found at no other castle, and how they were made is still something of a mystery.[3][1]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideAdmission required. The path from the ticket office to the gate is uphill.
03

Taki Rentaro's statue and the mountain view

Where
The site of the second enclosure (ninomaru).
What to look at
The seated statue of Taki Rentaro and the mountains in the direction he faces.
Why it's interesting
The statue was made by sculptor Asakura Fumio, who attended the same school as Taki as a boy. On its back is Asakura's memory of Taki playing the shakuhachi flute at the castle. The official site notes that Mt. Aso and the Kuju mountains can be seen from the castle ruins.[4][1]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideAdmission required. There is a rest area in the second enclosure.

At a glance for visitors

Nearest station
from JR Bungo-Taketa Station
Climb
Steep climb
Time neededEditors' estimate
The official suggested walks: Honmaru route 30–40 minutes, Nishinomaru route 40–60 minutes, full loop 90–120 minutes.
Admission
300 yen for high school age and older (200 yen in groups of 20+); 150 yen for elementary and junior high students (100 yen in groups). Cash, credit cards and transit IC cards are accepted.
Hours
Entry 9:00–17:00
Access
Partly open

Admission is charged (entry 9:00–17:00). There are no fences on top of the stone walls, and getting close to the edge is dangerous; falls have occurred. Stone steps and slopes are slippery on rainy days and the day after. Some land within the site is private property. Drones are prohibited in principle.

Checked:

View on mapOpen in Google MapsOka Castle Ruins official siteOka Castle Ruins (English)

The story of this castle

01
Tradition

A plateau between two rivers

Oka Castle stands on a plateau 325 m above sea level, formed by pyroclastic flows from Mt. Aso. The long, narrow tableland lies between the Inaba and Shirataki rivers, tributaries of the Ono River, and rises in sheer cliffs from the riverbanks, making it a natural fortress. Tradition says the castle began in 1185, when the warrior Ogata Koreyoshi built it to welcome Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who was then on the run from his brother Yoritomo.[2][3]

02
Historical record

An 18-year-old lord turns back the Shimazu

From the 14th century, the Shiga family, a branch of the Otomo clan who ruled Bungo, is thought to have held the castle. In 1586 a large army of the Shimazu clan from southern Kyushu invaded Bungo and attacked Oka. The 18-year-old lord Shiga Chikatsugu drove off all three assaults and received a letter of praise from Toyotomi Hideyoshi. At the time Oka was still an earthen fort of banks and dry ditches.[2][3]

03
Historical record

Nakagawa Hidenari turns it into a stone castle

When the Otomo lost their lands in 1593, the Shiga family left the castle too. In 1594 Nakagawa Hidenari arrived from Miki in Harima Province (today's Hyogo Prefecture) and, by 1596, rebuilt the whole castle with stone walls. The main enclosures and the main gate were completed then, creating the stone-walled castle you see today.[2][3]

04
Historical record

Seat of the Nakagawa family for 280 years

Oka was the center of the Oka domain (han), ruled by 13 generations of the Nakagawa family for about 280 years. In 1664 a palace was built in the west enclosure as a retirement residence for the third lord, Nakagawa Hisakiyo, and later the domain's government moved there as well. The clifftop castle was often damaged by storms, earthquakes and fire; a great fire in 1771 burned most of it, including the main and west enclosures, but each time it was rebuilt.[2][1]

05
Historical record

The buildings vanished; the walls remained

After the Meiji Restoration the Nakagawa family moved to Tokyo, and in 1874 every building inside the castle was demolished. Only the stone walls were left, but since the enclosures, gateways and even the turret bases were all built of stone, the scale of the castle is still easy to read. The building that served as the keep was the Gosangai Yagura, a three-story turret in the main enclosure.[2][3][4]

06
Historical record

Protected as a National Historic Site

The ruins were designated a National Historic Site in 1936. Taketa City manages the site today and charges admission to help maintain the stone walls and grounds. In the town below, the Taketa City History and Culture Museum (Yugakukan) has a guidance center about the castle.[2][1][5][6]

People of this castle

Timeline

  1. Ogata Koreyoshi is said to have built the first fort[2]

  2. Shiga Chikatsugu repels the Shimazu army[2][3]

  3. Nakagawa Hidenari arrives and begins rebuilding the castle in stone[2]

  4. A great fire destroys most of the castle[2]

  5. All the castle buildings are demolished[2]

  6. Taki Rentaro composes "Kojo no Tsuki"[2]

  7. Designated a National Historic Site[2]

Buildings and remains

The keep today

Keep lost

The keep's role was filled by the Gosangai Yagura, a three-story turret in the main enclosure. It was torn down in the Meiji era, and its stone base remains. The Japan Castle Foundation's list shows no keep ("−").

The site today

No buildings survive; the site preserves stone walls and the outlines of the enclosures. Taketa City manages it and charges admission. Some land inside the historic site is privately owned.

Main buildings

Lost

Gosangai Yagura (three-story turret)

The turret that served as the keep in the main enclosure; demolished in the Meiji era.[4]

Site only

Otemon (main gate)

The stone walls and foundation stones remain.[4]

Site only

Taiko Yagura Gate

Entrance to the castle's core; its walls of tightly fitted stones about 2 m across remain.[4][3]

Site only

West Enclosure Palace

Built in 1664 and later the seat of government. Only the site remains.[2][4]

Key facts

Type
Castle
Setting
Mountain castle (yamajiro)built on a mountain; expect a climbEditorial article
Period
Medieval (c.1185–1570s), Early modern (1570s–1871)Editorial article
Keep (tenshu)
Keep lostthe castle had a keep, but it no longer stands (its stone base may remain)Editorial article
Built by
Nakagawa Hidenari, Ogata no Saburo KoreyoshiJapan Castle Foundation
Built
1185Japan Castle Foundation
Main lords
Nakagawa clanJapan Castle Foundation
Abandoned
1871Wikipedia (ja)
Remains to see
Stone walls, Baileys / enclosures (kuruwa), Fortified gateways (koguchi), Turrets or turret bases, GatesEditorial article
Designation
National Historic Site (Oka Castle ruins) (1936)Editorial article
Selection
Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 93Japan Castle Foundation

Visiting

Access

Partly open

Admission is charged (entry 9:00–17:00). There are no fences on top of the stone walls, and getting close to the edge is dangerous; falls have occurred. Stone steps and slopes are slippery on rainy days and the day after. Some land within the site is private property. Drones are prohibited in principle.

Address

2889 Oaza Taketa, Taketa, Oita 878-0013 (for car navigation, use 2761 Oaza Taketa)[1]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Nearest stations and how to get there

JR Bungo-Taketa StationJR Hohi Line

Steep climb

About 5 minutes by car from the station to the ticket office and car park. Taxis are available, and bicycles can be rented at the Taketa tourist information office inside the station. The path from the ticket office to the main gate is uphill. Walking time from the station is not confirmed.[6][1]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Hours and admission

Oka Castle Ruins (admission)
Hours
Entry 9:00–17:00
Closed
December 31 – January 3
Admission
300 yen for high school age and older (200 yen in groups of 20+); 150 yen for elementary and junior high students (100 yen in groups). Cash, credit cards and transit IC cards are accepted.[1][6]
Checked: 2026-10-03

By car / parking

Free parking for 140 cars and 9 buses; no reservation needed. Private cars cannot drive into the castle grounds.[1]

Checked: 2026-10-03
Grounds opening hours
Entry 9:00–17:00[1]Checked: 2026-10-03
Time needed
The official suggested walks: Honmaru route 30–40 minutes, Nishinomaru route 40–60 minutes, full loop 90–120 minutes.
Steps, slopes and footing
A hilltop castle with many slopes and steps, especially the climb to the main gate and the steep stone steps from the third enclosure to the main enclosure. There are no fences along the tops of the walls.[1]
Wheelchairs and strollers
Many areas are difficult for wheelchair users, and there are few elevators or handrails. Wheelchairs are not lent. On some days, mainly in spring and autumn, a free shuttle van (9 seats, can carry a wheelchair with a helper) runs from the ticket office to the Higashi-Nakajikiri point inside the castle, though stone steps are still needed near the main enclosure.[1][7]Checked: 2026-10-03
Toilets and rest
Three locations: the car park (with an accessible toilet), the facility in the second enclosure (with an accessible toilet), and the Makanaikata site.[1]
English signs / audio guide
The official website has English pages. There is also an AR app, "Okajo Jiku Sanpo" (English support not confirmed). English signage on site is not confirmed.[1]
Seasons
Cherry blossoms in spring, with the Oka Castle Cherry Blossom Festival (a daimyo procession and armored warriors) every April. Autumn leaves in fall, and the official site says winter is when the stone walls look their best.[1]
Photography
Filming for TV, film or press, and publishing photos or videos in print or other media, require permission from the Taketa City Board of Education. Drones are prohibited in principle and require advance application.[1]
Works, closures and restrictions
The autumn 2026 (September–December) shuttle schedule is posted in the official news.[7]Checked: 2026-10-03

Suggested routes

Official "Honmaru Route" (a quick 30–40 minutes) 40 min

  1. Pay admission at the ticket office (former administration office site)
  2. Climb the slope to the main gate site and look for the kamaboko stones along the approach
  3. Pass the Nishi-Nakajikiri point and the huge fitted stones of the Taiko Yagura Gate
  4. See the tall clifftop walls at the third enclosure
  5. Visit Taki Rentaro's statue and the view in the second enclosure
  6. Continue to the main enclosure, then return the same way

The route name and time come from the official site map; the order of stops was arranged by the editors from the tourism association's description of the shortest course (40 minutes round trip).

Around the castle

Museum

Taketa City History and Culture Museum (Yugakukan)

Home to the Oka Castle Guidance Center, with a stone-wall theater and a terrain diorama, and displays the bronze "Santiago Bell," an Important Cultural Property. Closed Thursdays (the next weekday if Thursday is a holiday).[8]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Editors' guide

An editorial guide based on sources and confirmed information — not a first-hand visit report.

Who will enjoy it

For people who can enjoy a castle through its stone walls alone, anyone who wants to feel the drama of cliffs and walls together, and those who know the song "Kojo no Tsuki." Expect plenty of slopes and stone steps, so wear good walking shoes.

What makes it interesting

The tall clifftop walls of the third enclosure and the stonework at the main gate and Taiko Yagura Gate are the highlights. It is fun to look for different stone-fitting techniques, the extra-large showpiece stones (kagami-ishi), and stones carved with masons' marks.

Before you go

No buildings remain; what you see are walls and the outlines of enclosures. Admission is charged, with entry from 9:00 to 17:00. The walls have no fences, so stay back from the edges. The site is about 5 minutes by car from the station, so plan on a taxi or rental bicycle.

Ways to enjoy it

Seeing the terrain diorama at the Yugakukan museum in town before you climb makes the clifftop layout easier to grasp. With more time, the official full loop (90–120 minutes) out to the west enclosure shows how big the castle really was. On a clear day, take in the mountain views from the main and second enclosures.

Photos

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Open questions

Sources

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    アクセス情報・ご利用案内国指定史跡 岡城跡(竹田市)officialChecked:
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    800年の歴史国指定史跡 岡城跡(竹田市)officialChecked:
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    難攻不落の石垣国指定史跡 岡城跡(竹田市)officialChecked:
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    場内マップ国指定史跡 岡城跡(竹田市)officialChecked:
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    日本100名城 一覧公益財団法人日本城郭協会jokakuChecked:
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    国指定史跡 岡城跡たけ旅(竹田市観光ツーリズム協会)tourismChecked:
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    登城バスの運行(10〜12月)について国指定史跡 岡城跡(竹田市)officialChecked:
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    竹田市歴史文化館・由学館国指定史跡 岡城跡(竹田市)officialChecked:
  9. 9
    岡城 (豊後国)(補助資料)Wikipedia日本語版otherChecked:
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    List of Japan's 100 Fine Castles and the Next 100公益財団法人日本城郭協会jokakuChecked:
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    Wikipedia「岡城 (豊後国)」Wikipedia日本語版wikipediaChecked:
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Listing status

  1. Candidate foundChecked
  2. Confirmed as a castle siteChecked
  3. Basic informationChecked
  4. In-depth articleChecked
  5. Photo rights checkedChecked
  6. Visit info checkedChecked

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