The Tsuwano Castle Ruins stand atop a mountain ridge, 200 meters above the town center. The castle was first built in the late 12th century. In the early 1600s, stone walls were added to the castle, but the main keep burnt down in 1686 after being struck by lightning. The keep was never rebuilt, and the castle was decommissioned in the 1870s after the Meiji Restoration, leaving only its stone foundations today.
A chair lift makes the approach to the castle easier, although a 15-20 minute hike through the woods is still required to reach the ruins of the main fortifications. Grass covers the grounds where the buildings formerly stood, but the walls of the multiple circles of defense still make for an imposing sight. Equally good are the panoramic views over Tsuwano Town that can be enjoyed from there.
