Yamagata

Yamagata lies in the mountains of northern Aki, where the Kikkawa family held a series of castles and residences. Ogurayama Castle, built in the first half of the fifteenth century, served as a Kikkawa stronghold before the family moved to Hiyama. The surviving earthworks show the form of a medieval mountain fortress. Later, Kikkawa Motoharu established a retirement residence in the district, with a garden laid out beside it.