[Hyogo, Minami Awaji] A local guide will guide you to the ruins of Shichi Castle, an important base for the Awaji Navy! A tour of Hideyoshi's army's key locations, where Kanbei Kuroda and Yoshiaki Kato, who were said to be genius military strategists, were stationed

The ruins of Shichi Castle are said to have once been the castle of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's military strategist Kuroda Kanbei and Kato Yoshiaki, one of the Seven Spears of Shizugatake. The representative of the "Society for Preserving Shichi Castle," which is dedicated to preserving the castle every day, will guide you through this precious historic site, which was an important base for the Awaji Navy under Hideyoshi. Located in Shichi, Minami Awaji City, near the Seto Inland Sea and the Naruto Strait, Shichi Castle is said to have been built by Suga Izuminokami Michitada during the Kamakura period, and was surrendered in 1581 when Toyotomi Hideyoshi attacked Awaji. After that, it was guarded by his vassal Kuroda Kanbei (Kuroda Yoshitaka), and from 1585, Kato Yoshiaki, one of the Seven Spears of Shizugatake, became the lord of the castle. The Awaji Navy, which had Shichi Castle as one of its bases, achieved great success in Hideyoshi's conquests of Kyushu, Odawara, and Korea, and there is no doubt that Awaji Island and Shichi Castle were important naval bases for Hideyoshi. However, the valuable historical site where Kuroda Kanbei and Kato Yoshiaki once lived has been swallowed up by bamboo forests in recent years and is on the verge of being forgotten by local residents. At that time, the local volunteers "Shichi Castle Preservation Society" stood up, worried that the valuable remains would disappear if things continued like this. In order to let many people, not just the locals, know about the Shichi Castle ruins and to pass on the story to future generations, they have been clearing the bamboo forest every day for about five years, and have been carrying out maintenance activities such as installing entrance roads and signs. This is a tour of the Shichi Castle ruins guided by Mr. Sekiguchi, the representative of the "Shichi Castle Preservation Society" who has a stronger passion for Shichi Castle than anyone else! The Shichi Castle ruins are currently being maintained, and recently wells and stones that are thought to be old stupas from that time have been discovered one after another. Perhaps you, as a participant of the tour, will discover an important relic! ■Experience schedule (if departing at 10:00) 10:00 Meet at the parking lot (north side of Shichi Castle ruins, across the street from the main entrance of Super Marunaka *see photo below) 10:00-10:05 Use the handmade sign as a landmark to move to the remains of the Honmarudai 10:05-10:15 Guide explains the history and characteristics of Shichi Castle 10:15-10:55 After viewing the remains such as the Taiko stone, the remains of the turret, and the old well, walk around the moat to Ise Shrine and Shomyo-ji Temple 10:55-11:00 Return to the parking lot and disband