* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Odani Castle
小谷城
Odani Castle is a historic castle in kinki dating from the Founded around 1525 (Daiei 5), whose lord was Azai Sukemasa / Azai Hisamasa / Azai Nagamasa.
Overview
About the Castle
Odani Castle, built on Mount Odani (approx. 495 m) in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, is a mountain fortress of the Sengoku period and stands eternally remembered in Japanese history as the seat of three generations of the Azai clan, who ruled northern Ōmi, and as the tragic stage of the love between Azai Nagamasa and Oichi. Legend records that the castle was founded around Daiei 5 (1525) by Azai Rōsei, the first generation. Strategically located on the northern shore of Lake Biwa, Odani Castle occupied a critical position at the crossroads where the three provinces of Echizen (Fukui), Wakasa (Fukui), and Ōmi (Shiga) converged, making it a militarily vital stronghold.
The Glory of the Azai Clan
Based at Odani Castle, the Azai clan grew into a powerful daimyo of northern Ōmi. During the era of Azai Hisakuni, the second generation, they were briefly subject to the Rokkaku clan, but when Azai Nagamasa inherited the clan, he defeated the Rokkaku in the Battle of Norada and restored their independence. In Eiroku 10 (1567), Azai Nagamasa entered into a political marriage with Oichi, sister of Oda Nobunaga, establishing an alliance between the Oda and Azai clans. Though this marriage was political in nature, it is said that deep affection grew between them, and three daughters were born: Chacha (later Yodo-dono), Hatsu, and Gō. These three sisters each became the mother of Toyotomi Hideyori, the wife of Kyōgoku Takatsugu, and the wife of Tokugawa Hidetada respectively, and are handed down in history as the "Three Sisters of the Sengoku," who lived through the turbulent age of transition from the Sengoku to the Edo period.
Betrayal and Fall
In Genki 1 (1570), despite being in alliance with Nobunaga, Azai Nagamasa betrayed him to support Asakura Yoshikage, honoring an old alliance with the Asakura clan. This decision is regarded as an action that upheld samurai honor, but it ultimately became the trigger for the Azai clan's downfall. In the Battle of Anegawa of Genki 1, the Oda-Tokugawa allied forces clashed with the Azai-Asakura allied forces, and Nagamasa was defeated. In Tenshō 1 (1573), Nobunaga's massive army besieged Odani Castle, and after his father Azai Hisakuni took his own life, Nagamasa himself committed suicide at the fall of the castle, at age twenty-nine.
Oichi and the Three Sisters
Oichi escaped the castle with her three young daughters. She later remarried Shibata Katsuie, but when Katsuie was defeated in the Battle of Shizugatake in Tenshō 11 (1583), she took her own life together with Katsuie at Kita-no-shō Castle in Echizen. The tragic fate of Nagamasa and Oichi—"a warrior general who lived by honor and a lady who maintained faithfulness"—continues to move the hearts of people in later ages, and Odani Castle has become a castle with special historical poignancy as the stage of their story.
Castle Ruins and Present
After the castle was abandoned, much of Odani Castle's stonework was reused in the construction of Nagahama Castle and Hikone Castle, and so many of the structures have been lost. However, the main citadel, great halls, Akao Yashiki, and other major castle ward ruins remain protected as national historic sites. A hiking trail to the castle ruins has been developed, and from the summit, the magnificent scenery of Lake Biwa spreads out before visitors. The autumn season, when maple leaves color the stone wall ruins, is particularly beautiful, and hiking through this mountain castle while reflecting on the rise and fall of the Azai clan is one of the finest ways to feel the history of the Sengoku period in one's very being.
Connection to Swords
Azai Nagamasa's story at Odani Castle is deeply intertwined with the sword culture of Ōmi Province (Shiga Prefecture). Ōmi, adjacent to Kyoto and Osaka, was a crossroads where swords from all traditions circulated, and powerful lords like the Azai possessed fine blades. After the fall of Odani, Nobunaga confiscated the Azai clan's weapons and treasures; Oichi reportedly kept mementos including blades associated with her late husband. The town that arose after Odani's fall — Nagahama, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi — became a center of sword fittings (kōgai, tsuba) craftsmanship in the Lake Biwa region. The Nagahama Castle History Museum displays arms and historical materials related to the Azai and Toyotomi.
Highlights
- Hiking the Odani Castle Ruins — A historical hike tracing the main citadel, great hall, and Akao residence among key fortification remains
- Panoramic views of Lake Biwa from the summit — Sweeping vistas of Ōmi's mountains and rivers as Azai Nagamasa once saw them
- Odani Castle History Museum — A museum preserving the history of three generations of the Azai clan and Odani Castle
- Nagahama Castle History Museum — Exhibits arms and artifacts related to the Azai and Toyotomi clans
- Shizugatake — An ancient battlefield where Shibata Katsutsuie was defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in Tenshō 11 (1583), a historic site near Nagahama city
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.