The Mikaburi Castle ruins on Mt.Mikaburi sit at an elevation of 242 meters. It is said that the castle was constructed by Kenshin Uesugi's chief vassal Oguma. The Oguma river flows in the east and the Koguma river flows in the west. The castle was in a strategic position as both rivers acted as natural defenses. Mt.Mikaburi itself has a beautiful shape to it and from the summit you can see the Takada Plains and the far-off Sea of Japan. The mountain castle is indicative of the castles that existed in medieval period Japan. It has been designated as a Joetsu City Cultural Asset.

The Kyougatake Castle ruins are 520 meters above the shores of the legendary lake, Bouga ike.In these ruins, classic features from medieval mountain castles such as empty moats ("horikiri"), built up earth foundations ("dorui"), residence remains, cut land, vertical moats and others have been left in nearly perfect form. Because of the scale of the remains and the interiors, it is said to be typical of the period.During the Sengoku Period (15th~16th centuries), this castle played a supporting role for Kasugayama Castle, defending from the Shinano region and acting as a check point.