Mt. Kinojo (Kinojo Castle)

Mount Kinojo is a 400m tall mountain to the north of Soja Plains. Kinojo Castle was built on the summit of this mountain. There are no records on the “Chronicles of Japan”, thus, the establishment date is unknown. However, according to excavation results, the castle is most likely to be built around the late 7th century. After the Battle of Baekgang in the year 663, Japanese soldiers were lost in the Korean Peninsula. In order to defend from the Sila-Tang army, the Japanese made various mountain castles. One of those castles is said to be Kinojo Castle.

Just a little below the summit is a 2.8km long castle wall, and with 4 gates,and 6 water gates. From the interior, there are buildings, basements, a watering hole, a fire signal place, and a forge. Thus, there was a castle that once stood. Visitors can see the reconstructed turret, and castle gate. The west gate has an observatory with a great panoramic view of Okayama City, and Setouchi.

A legend says the demon “Ura”, defeated by “Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto” once resided in the castle. This place is where the myth originated from. A walking course around the castle walls is offered, thus visitors can trek and see the “Demon Giving Stone”, and “Demon Pounding Stone”, mysterious, and giant stones that are named after the demon.