Seta Castle Ruins

The River Seta is the only river flowing from Lake Biwa, and the Seta no Karahashi Bridge over the river was an important strategic hub for transportation and military purposes from ancient times. Seta Castle was built at the foot of the bridge, and the members of the Yamaoka Clan served as the lords of the castle from generation to generation.
Yamaoka Kagetaka played an active role as the lord of the castle to protect the Seta no Karahashi Bridge during Oda Nobunaga’s administration. Kagetaka gained Nobunaga’s trust so deeply that Nobunaga stayed at Seta Castle every time he visited Kyoto. In 1582, Akechi Mitsuhide killed Nobunaga at the Honnoji Incident, and his army proceeded towards the Seta no Karahashi Bridge to occupy Azuchi Castle. As Kagetaka was entrusted to be in charge of the bridge by Nobunaga, he kept his loyalty to Nobunaga and burned it down. This made Mitsuhide retreat with his army, which apparently influenced the country’s future.