Database: Shoryu-ji

Shōryū-ji Castle (in Yamashiro Province, southwest of Kyoto), first mentioned in a mid-15th century text, was occupied during the Ōnin War (1467–1477). In 1568, Oda Nobunaga, along with Ashikaga Yoshiaki, seized Kyoto and successively conquered the castles of the Miyoshi clan (who had ruled the region up until this point), starting with Shōryū-ji Castle. The castle was then entrusted to Hosokawa Fujitaka who rebuilt it in 1571 and solidified its defenses with a double moat. According to written sources, Hosokawa Fujitaka had a main keep inside Shōryū-ji before the one in Nobunaga's Azuchi Castle. Hosokawa Tadaoki, the male heir of Fujitaka, and Tama (better known as Gracia Hosokawa), the daughter of Akechi Mitsuhide, are said to have married in 1578 at Shōryū-ji Castle, where they spent their honeymoon until 1581, when Fujitaka became lord of Miyazu Castle in the Tango Province.

After a successful rebellion against Nobunaga in 1582, Akechi Mitsuhide conquered Shōryū-ji Castle and made it his stronghold, although that success was short-lived. Mitsuhide was defeated a few days later at the Yamazaki Battle and the victor, Hashiba Hideyoshi, expelled Mitsuhide and claimed the castle. It was then abandoned and rarely used, except for a short period in the first half of the 17th century. Some earthen walls, stone walls, and moats remain to this day, but there is no trace of the keep.