Three Cities and One Village in Hida Unite! Sengoku Warlords Revived by AI in the Newly Completed 'Hida Region Castle Tour Map'

Hida City, Gifu Prefecture (Mayor: Junya Tsuzuku), with the full cooperation of Takayama City, Gero City, and Shirakawa Village, has produced the 'Hida Region Castle Tour Map' covering major castles in Hida Province (the current three cities and one village). Traditionally, brochures have been produced by individual administrative units. However, responding to the voices of castle fans and tourists wanting to 'tour Hida as a single historical zone,' this is a cross-municipal project rare on a national level. Centered on 9 castle ruins carefully selected by curators from each municipality, it condenses professional explanations and tourist routes onto a single sheet. The biggest highlight is the illustrations recreating the images of lesser-known Sengoku warlords of Hida using the latest AI under the supervision of curators. Combining historical expertise with modern technology, the map dramatically visualizes the turbulent times of Sengoku-era Hida.

Curators Breakthrough the 'Municipal Walls'

Within Hida City, there are numerous castle ruins, centering on two national historic sites: the Ema Clan Castle Ruins and the Anegakoji Clan Castle Ruins. The Hida City Board of Education has been advancing research, preservation, and utilization efforts since 2017.

Previously, castle brochures were typically produced by each local government. However, this map was created in response to requests from tourists and castle fans who wanted to 'see the castles of the Hida region on a single map, rather than by administrative divisions.' Triggered by the formulation of the 'Historic Site Anegakoji Clan Castle Ruins Preservation and Utilization Plan' for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, cross-regional cooperation beyond municipal boundaries was realized.

Three 'Particulars' of This Map

1. 9 Castles Carefully Selected by Curators from Each Municipality

From the numerous castle ruins scattered throughout Hida, 9 were strictly selected based on three criteria: historical value, accessibility, and episodes (anecdotes). The lineup, which satisfies everyone from beginners to enthusiasts, includes the legendary 'Kaeriun Castle' that disappeared in a massive earthquake, and the 'Ema Clan Mansion' with its beautiful gardens.

2. Supervised by Curators in Charge! 'Realistic Warlords' Recreated by AI

Visualized using the latest AI based on historical episodes, including warlords with no surviving portraits such as Terumori Ema and Ujiyoshi Uchigashima. The supervising curators 'ordered over 10 retakes, insisting on the atmosphere of the time,' resulting in highly passionate illustrations reminiscent of a certain Sengoku video game that are a must-see.

Arishige Kanamori: A warlord from the Sengoku period to the early Edo period. The 2nd lord of the Hida-Takayama domain. Terumori Ema: A warlord from the Sengoku period to the Azuchi-Momoyama period. A member of the Ema clan, local samurai of Hida Province. Lord of Hida Takahara Suwa Castle.

3. Hybrid Structure of 'History' x 'Tourism'

In addition to professional commentary by curators, it features 'access from metropolitan areas' and 'positional relationships with major tourist destinations' supervised by tourism division staff. It possesses practical utility, capable of being used directly for actual travel planning, rather than just as historical material.

The 'Heroes of Hida' and Castle Ruins Featured

The current Hida region (Hida City, Takayama City, Gero City, Shirakawa Village) was consistently a single province called 'Hida Province' from ancient times. During the Sengoku period, it was in a state of rival warlords, with figures such as the Anegakoji, Miki, Ema, and Uchigashima clans governing their respective territories. Numerous castle ruins built by these warlords remain in the Hida region, including some where recent research has led to new discoveries.

Hida's Rival Warlords and Their Castles

- Anegakoji Clan (Furukawa Castle, Kojima Castle)
A family that governed the area around Hida Furukawa. While being Kyoto nobles 'Hida Kokushi' (provincial governors), they acted as local lords (samurai). Well-versed in Kyoto culture, the father and son Mototsuna and Naritsugu Anegakoji are also famous as court poets.

- Miki Clan (Matsukura Castle, Hirose Castle, Sakurabora Castle, Hagiwara Suwa Castle)
Based in southern Hida (current Gero City), this family expanded its influence to northern Takayama and Furukawa during the Sengoku period. Inheriting the Anegakoji name, they eventually defeated the Ema clan but were destroyed by the invasion of the Kanamori clan.

- Ema Clan (Ema Clan Mansion, Takahara Suwa Castle)
A family that governed the Takahara district in northern Hida (around current Kamioka-cho, Hida City). Excavations revealed that the Ema clan's mansion had samurai residences and gardens with a prestige on par with the Shogun's residence in Kyoto.

- Uchigashima Clan (Kaeriun Castle)
Samurai based around current Shirakawa-go, they connected with the Shogunate as Shogun's direct retainers and were active during the Sengoku period. Due to the 'Tensho Earthquake' in 1585, they vanished from the main stage of history along with their residence, Kaeriun Castle.

- Kanamori Clan (Takayama Castle)
Considered part of the Mino-Toki clan, Nagachika Kanamori served Nobunaga Oda from a young age. Later, under orders from Hideyoshi Hashiba (later Toyotomi), he invaded Hida. Triggered by the Kanamori clan's entry and rule, Hida Province entered the early modern period and continued as the Hida-Takayama domain for six generations.

How to Obtain the Hida Castle Tour Map

Distribution Locations: Tourist information centers, cultural facilities in Hida City, and major facilities of related municipalities

Web Release: PDF version currently available on the official site 'Cultural Properties of Hida City'

Message from the Person in Charge

Curator Hisanori Oshita, Cultural Promotion Division, who was in charge of creation:

'The passionate voices of castle fans wanting to 'tour Hida as a single region' moved us curators, leading to the completion of the first-ever cross-regional map that transcends municipal boundaries.'