Kyuden Kurogane-Hana

Kyuden Kurogane-Hana was built around the Temple to Emma-O in the mouth of a steep valley, surrounded by forests, with a stream running through it and emptying into a shallow lake, the Heaven's Mirror.

Founding
Originally the building was military-based, intended to be the main defence of Lord Seto lands, against the ambitions of his bordering rival Lord Ieyasu. After three years of construction by Kaiu Engineers, the plans were changed. The keep had to host an Imperial funeral, as ordered by the new Emperor. Seto hired new architects to shift the building to a luxurious kyuden. What the Emperor saw only served to further please him, a place which combined military aspects with those of a courtly palace. He compared the castle to a piece of raw iron re-worked into the shape of a blossom. Lord Seto decided the castle to be known as Kyuden Kurogane-Hana, the “Iron-Flower Castle.”

Meeting Point
In the 12th century the kyuden was visited by the famous ronin duelist Hisao.