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[[Image:HachiojiC.Shiroyama.JPG|right|thumb|300px|Shiroyama seen from the east]]

[[Image:HachiojiC.Shiroyama.JPG|right|thumb|300px|Shiroyama seen from the east]]

Hachioji Castle was located on Mt.  Fukazawa 深沢山 <ref>The modern name of the mountain, Shiroyama, means "castle mountain."</ref> near Kobosatsu Pass 小仏峠, the place where Kôshu Kaidô, a [[highways|highway]] to [[Kai province]] enters the [[Kanto|Kantô Plain]]. It was built by the [[Go-Hojo clan|Hôjôs]] of [[Odawara castle]], the dominant family of the Kantô at that time. It was overwhelmed and destroyed during [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Hideyoshi's]] [[siege of Odawara]].

Hachioji Castle was located on Mt.  Fukazawa 深沢山 <ref>The modern name of the mountain, Shiroyama, means "castle mountain."</ref> near Kobosatsu Pass 小仏峠, the place where Kôshu Kaidô, a [[highways|highway]] to [[Kai province]], enters the [[Kanto|Kantô Plain]]. It was built by the [[Go-Hojo clan|Hôjôs]] of [[Odawara castle]], the dominant family of the Kantô at that time. It was overwhelmed and destroyed during [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Hideyoshi's]] [[siege of Odawara]].

The castle was built as an outpost of Odawara Castle by Hôjô Ujiteru, the younger brother of [[Hojo Ujimasa|Hôjô Ujimasa]]. In [[1569]] [[Takeda Shingen]] of Kai had passed through the Kôshû highway to attack [[Takiyama castle]] 滝山城, located near where the Akikawa River flows into the Tama River. According to some sources, Hachioji Castle was begun soon after, but perhaps only some basic fortifications were made, as other sources give various dates in the 1580s.  

The castle was built as an outpost of Odawara Castle by [[Hôjô Ujiteru]], the younger brother of [[Hojo Ujimasa|Hôjô Ujimasa]]. In [[1569]] [[Takeda Shingen]] of Kai had passed through the Kôshû highway to attack [[Takiyama castle]] 滝山城, located near where the Akikawa River flows into the Tama River. According to some sources, Hachioji Castle was begun soon after, but perhaps only some basic fortifications were made, as other sources give various dates in the 1580s. The Hôjô were allied with the Takeda from 1560-68 and again from 1571-78,<ref>歴史群像シリーズ　５：武田信玄：風林火山の大戦略　(Rekishi Gunzou Series #5: Takeda Shingen: Furinkazan No Daisenryaku): Gakken, Tokyo, 2000.</ref> so perhaps they put off serious building to avoid upsetting the alliance.  

[[Image:HachiojiC.diagram.JPG|center|thumb|500px|Diagram of the castle as it was in the 16th century, viewed from the south. The approach was from the right. The residential area was at the bottom right. The Hon-maru was at the top of the mountain, with the Matsuki Circuit 松木曲輪 just below it.]]

[[Image:HachiojiC.diagram.JPG|center|thumb|500px|Diagram of the castle as it was in the 16th century, viewed from the south. The approach was from the right. The residential area was at the bottom right. The Hon-maru was at the top of the mountain, with the Matsuki Circuit 松木曲輪 just below it.]]