The ruins of Hamada Castle are located on Mt. Kameyama, which altitude is sixty-six meters in height. On a hillside, Hamada Gokoku Shrine is located.

At the end of the Edo Age, Choshu Domain, located to the west of Hamada Domain, had conquests by Edo Bakufu, which was the central goverment of Japan during the Edo Age. These conquests happened in 1864 and 1866.

This is the brief background of the conquests by Edo Bakufu to Choshu Domain. Choshu Domain changed the opinion to open Japan but kept the position to overthrow the Edo Bakufu. They had the military supports by the United Kingdom and the alliance with Satsuma Domain (the present Kagoshima Prefecture).

At the second conquests of Choshu Domain by Edo Bakufu, Hamada Domain was defeated by Choshu Domain. Hamada Castle was taken over by Choshu. This was the beginning of the end of the Edo Age.

On the way to the main castle area, you will see a historical gate.

This gatre was originally located at Tsuwano Castle in the Edo Age. After the Edo Age was finished, the gate was used as the gate of Hamada Prefecture and relocated to the current place in 1967.

Stone stairs and stone walls continue to the main bailey. The atmosphere in this area tells us the vicissitudes of the times of Hamada Castle.

Streight and wide stone stairs continue to the left as shown in the below left picture. This stairs to the left were made after the Edo Age. Original approach to the main bailey was the narrow stone stairs on your right.

The gate shown in the below picture was the second-gate of the castle.

Finally, you will arrive at the site of the main bailey of Hamada Castle. The main bailey was a square area with a side length of approximately fifty meters.

In the Edo Age, the three storied turret was located in the main bailey.
To the north from the main bailey, you will see the Sea of Japan.

The above left picture shows "Tonoura" Cove. In the Edo Age, "Tonoura"Cove was a port for "Kitamae-Bune", which was a freight vessel from Osaka to Hokkaido through Seto Inland Sea and along the Sea of Japan. At each port, "KItamae-Bune" delivered farm products and sea foods from Hokkaido and Tohoku Area to Osaka. From Osaka, rice, salt and daily goods were delivered by "Kitamae-Bune".

Kitamae-Bune" also made inland trade at each port, resulting in prosperity at each port.

After visiting the main bailey on the top of Mt. Kameyama, you will visit the site of "Nakanomon" Gate. The site of the gate is located just behind houses located at the foot of Mt. Kameyama.

"Nakanomon" Gate was the main gate of Hamada Cstle. All the gate buildings were broken. Only stone walls of the foundation of the gate buildings remain.

Indeed, Hamada Castle is not well-known for Japanese. But, the history of Hamadfa Castle has the epok-making event.

How to get there
From Tokyo or Osaka, take a "Nozomi" bound for Hakata. Get off a Nozomi at Shin-Yamaguchi and change to a "Super-Oki" to Hamada. It will take you approximately six and half or seven hours, Hamada Castle is located to the west of Hamada Station, thirty minutes on foot.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Historical Sites in Iwami Silver Mine
Yunotsu Port Town
Ruins of Hagi Castle
Ruins of Tsuwano Castle
Yamaguchi Xavier Memorial Church