Yamaguchi Prefecture

Hagi Castle, also known as Shizuki Castle, is a flatland style Japanese Castle located in the city of Hagi Yamaguchi Prefecture. While Hagi Castle was a flatland style castle, it was in many respects also a hilltop style castle as it had a turret located part way up the mountain behind the castle and another on top of the mountain. These combined with sea on almost three sides of Hagi Castle, plus a water channel located in front of the moat provided a high degree of protection. It was this high level of protection which allowed Mori Terumoto, who constructed Hagi Castle in 1604, and his descendents to maintain control of the castle until the Meiji Restoration. Prior to the destruction of Hagi Castle in 1874, it featured a five story donjon (turret). Today only ruins remain with walls and moat still in place. There still remains the associated historic castle which is a National Historic Site and popular tourist destination. |