The gozoku (a local ruling family) who worked as jito (manager and lord of manor) governed Sanda by constructing small Yamashiros (castles built on the top of mountains or halfway up the mountains for defensive reasons) such as Kuwabara-jo Castle, Kishi-jo Castle and Ohara-jo Castle.
地頭である豪族が桑原城、貴志城、大原城などの小さな山城を築いて統治していた。