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Inabayama

Inabayama refers to a hill and fortress site in present-day Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It is best known for Inabayama Castle (稲葉山城), which occupied the hill and overlooked the Nagara River valley. The name Inabayama is derived from the location itself and is used in historical accounts to refer to the fortress before it became associated with a new center of power.

Historically, Inabayama was held by the Saito clan during the Sengoku period. It became the seat of

In 1567, Oda Nobunaga launched a siege of Inabayama Castle and defeated the Saito forces, effectively ending

Today, the site is recognized as a historic landmark within Gifu City. Remnants of the fortress, such

Saito
Dōsan’s
son,
Saito
Tatsuoki,
who
governed
the
area
from
the
fortress
during
the
mid-16th
century.
The
fortress’
strategic
position
made
it
a
target
for
rival
powers
seeking
to
consolidate
control
over
Mino
Province
and
its
surroundings.
Saito
rule
in
the
region.
Following
the
capture,
Nobunaga
renamed
the
fortress
and
the
surrounding
settlement
as
Gifu
Castle
and
the
city
as
Gifu,
signaling
a
shift
in
political
and
administrative
control.
The
capture
of
Inabayama
Castle
is
regarded
as
a
significant
step
in
Nobunaga’s
rise
to
power
and
the
unification
efforts
of
the
era.
as
earthworks
and
stone
remnants,
survive
as
archaeological
and
tourist
remains.
The
area
remains
associated
with
the
broader
history
of
the
region
and
the
early
formation
of
the
city
of
Gifu.