Oka Castle Ruins: A National Historic Site 2
It is said that in the first year of the Bunji era (1185), the local samurai Ogata Saburo Koreyoshi built this castle to welcome Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Later, in 1594 during the Bunroku era, it became the castle of the Okahan domain upon the arrival of Lord Nakagawa. The castle structures that remain today were built by the first lord of the domain, Nakagawa Hideshige. The main compound consists of the Honmaru (central keep), Ninomaru (second compound), Sannomaru (third compound), and Nishinomaru (western compound). The castle is also known as "Gagyū-jō" (Sleeping Cow Castle) because its layout resembles a reclining cow. From the Honmaru, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the Kuju Mountain Range, while the Kikudo-mon gate offers a sweeping vista of Mount Aso and the castle town below. Additionally, the Ninomaru compound features a statue of composer Rentarō Taki, crafted by the renowned sculptor Fumio Asakura.