High on Mt Inunaki a forgotten fortress stands. This isn’t just any mountain. Mt Inunaki holds a secret. A secret from Fukuoka’s past.
Mt Inunaki was once home to Inunaki Valley Village. This village was more than just homes. It was strategically important. In 1865 a castle annex was built here. This was Fukuoka Castle number two. The original castle was near the coast. This made it vulnerable. So the Fukuoka feudal clan built a secondary fortress. It was meant to be a safe haven. A place to escape to in times of danger.
Katō Shishō a high-ranking samurai was behind this plan. He saw Mt Inunaki’s potential. The steep mountains provided natural defense. The annex was a marvel of engineering. It was meant to withstand sieges.
Unfortunately the annex didn’t last long. Just six years later the Han system ended. The annex was abandoned. Then in 1884 a storm destroyed most of it.
The remnants were used for other things. Local people took the materials for their homes. The nearby Anrakuji temple also used some materials. This was a loss for history. Today only parts of the gates and walls remain. A garden pond also remains. It is a poignant reminder of a forgotten fortress.
A model of the annex exists in the Miyawaka Chuo community center. This model helps us to visualize what was lost. Mt Inunaki’s quiet strength hides a story of strategic importance. A story of a lost castle. A story of resilience and loss. Mt Inunaki still stands tall. It silently guards its secrets. It watches over Fukuoka. It invites us to learn more about its remarkable past.