A nationally designated historic site whose mountaintop offers a sweeping panorama of Mt. Daisen, Lake Nakaumi, and the city — one of Yonago's hidden scenic gems.
Yonago Castle Ruins occupy Minatoyama Hill (approximately 90 meters above sea level) in the center of Yonago City, Tottori Prefecture, and were designated a National Historic Site in 2006. Construction is said to have begun around Tensho 19 (1591) under Hiroyoshi Kikkawa of the Mori clan, and the castle was completed as a modern-style fortification around 1602 by Kazutada Nakamura, who governed Hoki Province after the Battle of Sekigahara.
In its heyday, the castle was praised as the "finest castle in the San'in region," boasting a five-story main keep and a four-story secondary keep, but the structures were dismantled after the Meiji Restoration. The stone walls still survive in remarkably good condition, conveying the grandeur of that era. From the keep platform at the summit, a 360-degree panorama unfolds, stretching to Mt. Daisen, Lake Nakaumi, the city of Yonago, and the Shimane Peninsula. In particular, around late February and late October, a spectacular phenomenon known as "Diamond Daisen" — the sun setting directly behind the peak — can be observed.
The hill has been developed as Shiroyama Park, a relaxed climb of about 15 minutes to the summit, where visitors can also enjoy seasonal flora along the way. The castle ruins are within walking distance of Yonago Station.