The entrance path is mostly winding and earthen walls called shitomi (timber shutters or doors that generally have vertical and horizontal lattice attached to the exterior surface and sometimes to the interior surface as well) or kazashi were built in front of the castle gate or with koguchi to prevent people from being able to enter straight into the castle.
大抵は曲げられて造られることが多く、城門や虎口の正面に蔀（しとみ）や芎（かざし）と呼ばれる土塁を設けてまっすぐ進めなくすることもある。