Hiji Castle was located on a small hill by Beppu Bay in Oita Prefecture. If you approach to Hiji Castle from the street along Beppu Bay, you will see stone walls, which protect baileys of Hiji Castle and the foundation of the Main Castle Tower.

From the foot of the foundation of the Main Castle Tower, you will see the views of calm Beppu Bay. It was in December when I visited, gentle winter sun shines on Beppu Bay. The scenery was very peaceful.

From the foundation of the "Bokai" turret, you can go up to the main bailey. "Bokai" means "a view of the sea" in English. The stone steps were covered by colored ginkgo leaves.

At the site of the main bailey of Hiji Castle, the Hiji elementary school is now located.

The Hiji junior high school is located at the site of the second bailey of Hiji Castle. Dry moats surrounds these two baileys of Hiji Castle. The below left picture shows the dray moat located between the main bailey and the second bailey.

Hiji Castle is well-known as "Shiroshita-Karei", marbled soles, caught in Beppu Bay. Marbled soles were presented to the Shogunate as the speciality of Hiji Domain in the Edo Age.

How to get there
From Tokyo or Osaka, take a "Nozomi" bound for Hakata. Change at Kokura Station to a Limited Express "Sonic" to Kitsuki Station. Change to a local train at Kitsuki and get off the train at Yokoku Station. It will take you approximately ten minutes to Hiji Castle from Yokoku Station.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Kitsuki Historical Districts
Ruins of Kitsuki Castle
Ruins of Funai Castle
Usuki Castle Town
Taketa Castle Town