Former Masuda Family Guard House

This guard house was built in the feudal period to keep watch over the Kita-Somon (north main gate) leading from the castle town into the Horiuichi district. The stone embankment stands 180 centimeters high, and atop it there is a sturdy single-story wooden structure. It was built to allow secret observation of those coming and going through the gate, and was part of the Mori vassal Masuda's residence. After the loss at Sekigahara, the Masuda clan was pushed by Ieyasu to become Tokugawa vassals, but the 20th lord Masuda Motonaga refused. Legend says that Mori Terumoto, having heard this, felt deeply moved by the story and thus valued the Masuda as permanent chief retainers ever after.