昔はその丘の上に城があった。

olden days; former

topic marker particle; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis

that (something or someone distant from the speaker, close to the listener; actions of the listener, or ideas expressed or understood by the listener); the; um...; er...; uh...

hill; height; knoll; rising ground; bonus points awarded to the winner at the end of a game

indicates possessive; nominalizes verbs and adjectives; substitutes for "ga" in subordinate phrases; (at sentence-end, falling tone) indicates a confident conclusion; (at sentence-end) indicates emotional emphasis; (at sentence-end, rising tone) indicates question

castle

indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; still; and

to be (usu. of inanimate objects); to exist; to live; to have; to be located; to be equipped with; to happen; to come about