Iwamura Castle Ruins, towering over Ena City, Gifu Prefecture, is a mountain castle built on a steep mountain at an altitude of 717m, and is counted as one of the "Three Great Mountain Castles of Japan" along with Bitchu Matsuyama Castle and Takatori Castle. It is also known as a rare castle where a woman ruled, with a history of Otsuya, known as a female castle lord, ruling from the Kamakura period to the Sengoku period. Currently, only the stone walls remain, but the way the walls are stacked is magnificent, and you can feel the high level of castle-building technology at the time and the dignity of an impregnable castle.

The greatest attraction of Iwamura Castle Ruins is the "sea of ​​clouds" that occurs when the weather conditions are right. Especially in the early mornings from autumn to winter, on days when the fog is thick, you can see the castle ruins floating in the sea of ​​clouds, creating a fantastic "castle in the sky" appearance. Many photography enthusiasts and tourists visit in search of this spectacular view. To get to the castle ruins, you need to walk up a paved road, which requires some physical strength, but the magnificent view that unfolds at the end is well worth it and will make you forget the fatigue of the climb.

At the foot of the castle ruins lies Iwamura Castle Town, which has been designated as a nationally designated Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. We recommend strolling through the old townscape, enjoying local delicacies such as gohei mochi and castella cake, and touring the sake brewery and museum.