#3: Re: [E] Japanese Castles Author: sanji
5 stars castles
Those castles are the most interesting in Japan, and should be included in any itinerary passing in their area. The rating criteria are defined as following :
Description: castles tend to have an original donjon and several supporting structures (moats, baileys, gates, castle town atmosphere).
Itinerary: These are historical treasures and it is worth the effort to go out of your way to visit them.
Audience: Everyone will enjoy a visit here.
Pictures and texts are from www.jcastle.info. Reproduced with permission.
Legend : original building reconstructed ruins
Hikone Castle (彦根城) - Shiga-ken - original building from 1603
A famous historical site designated a National Treasure. When the Meiji era began in 1868, many castles were scheduled to be dismantled; it is only because of an express request of the Emperor that this castle was spared...
link : www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/36-Hikone-Castle
Himeji Castle (姫路城) - Hyogo-ken - original building from 1601
The most famous castle in Japan! It is also one of the most accessible, located in the center of Himeji City 50 kilometers west of Kobe. The shinkansen stops there, and it takes just 10-15 by foot from station to reach the castle. It was registered in 1993 on the UNESCO's World Heritage list - being the first Japanese site on this famous list. Nicknamed "White Heron" because of its characteristic white walls, it reaches 46.4 meters high. Visitors are amazed by the design of the defenses, which creates an effective maze of walls and building around the main tower. Himeji Castle was built from 1601 over an older fort by Terumasa Ikeda (son-in-law of the Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa). Although it was an important defensive position for that shogunate, the castle was never damaged by wars, and still today retains its original construction - an impressive feature when you remember that it is mostly made of wood.
link : www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/32-Himeji-Castle
www.himeji-castle.gr.jp/index/English
Kanazawa Castle (金沢城) - Ishikawa-ken - ruins from 1580 (burned down in 1602)
Kanazawa Castle was the headquarters of the powerful Maeda clan from 1583. The castle, which was built in 1580, burned down a first time just a few years later, in 1602. Further fires almost completely destroyed the structure, the latest in 1881, and the only part remaining is the Ishikawa Gate which dates from 1788. Today, most of the surface of the former castle is occupied by a grassy area which serves as a park for citizen.
link : www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/7-Kanazawa-Castle
www.pref.ishikawa.jp/siro-niwa/kanazawajou/index_e.html
Hirosaki Castle (弘前城) - Aomori-ken - original building from 1611
The 3 level donjon of Hirosaki-jo seems disproportionately small when compared to the huge estate encompassed by the castle today. Hirosaki-jo was originally built with a 5 level donjon which was struck by lightning and burned to the ground in 1627. The donjon was not rebuilt until 1810. The yagura no longer exists and the donjon stands alone. Hirosaki-jo has the only extant donjon to the east of Matsumoto-jo (Nagano prefecture) making it a historical treasure of the Tohoku region. Hirosaki-jo is famous throughout Japan for the more than 2600 cherry trees that fill its grounds today.
link : www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/43-Hirosaki-Castle
Kumamoto Castle (熊本城) - Kumamoto-ken - reconstructed in 1960 (original was from 1607)
A large castle built by Kato Kiyomasa. It suffered several damages, and finally was destroyed the 19th of February 1877 during the Satsuma Rebellion, after sustaining a 53- days siege.
The donjon (the central part of the castle) is a concrete reconstruction dating from 1960, but there are still older parts that can be seen. The castle has undergo some major restoration for several years, which is now completed. It seems that the result is stunning...
link : www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/8-Kumamoto-Castle
Matsue Castle (松江城) - Shimane-ken - original building from 1603
Of all castles I have seen in Japan, this is my favorite one: a truly original building, entirely made of wood, in nice surroundings and with relatively few tourists; a great place to visit...
While most of the Japanese castles were destroyed either during the wars or by natural disasters, Matsue Castle still has some of its original wooden construction; of course many parts were rebuilt later, but in the same construction style - using wood and not concrete. This castle is one of the 12 original castles remaining in Japan; it is the second largest and third tallest, with its donjon rising at 30m. The view from the top floor on the town and the nearby lake is stunning.
That tower is the only remaining building of the castle, as all other were destroyed in 1875. On the grounds, there is now a beautiful two-storied western-style structure built in 1903, Matsue Kyodo Kan, which hosts a regional museum
link : www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/26-Matsue-Castle
www.city.matsue.shimane.jp/kankou/jp/e/castle.htm
Matsumoto Castle (松本城) - Nagano-ken - original building from 1590
After Himeji-jo, Matsumoto-jo is the next best extant castle donjon in Japan. Built by Ishikawa Kazumasa and his son Yasunaga in 1590, Matsumoto-jo is designated a National Treasure.
link : www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/53-Matsumoto-Castle
Iyo Matsuyama Castle (伊予松山城) - Ehime-ken - original building from 1603
Matsuyama Castle was built from 1602 to 1627 in Matsuyama city in Ehime Prefecture. This castle was originally built by Yoshiaki Kato. The donjon was destroyed by lightning in 1784, to be rebuilt from 1820. During the Second World War, many of the structures were destroyed. Since 1966, a restoration work by the local authorities started.
link : www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/33-Iyo-Matsuyama-Castle
Nijo Castle (二条城) - Kyoto-fu - ruins from 1603
In 1601 Tokugawa Ieyasu (the founder of Tokugawa Shogunate) ordered all the feudal lords in Western Japan to contribute to the construction of the Nijō Castle. This construction was completed during the reign of Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1626.
The original structure was destroyed in 1750 (donjon burned to the ground by lightening) and 1788 (Inner Palace destroyed by a huge fire). Nowadays, visitors can still enjoy the sight of the Ninomaru Palace, where the declaration of Tokugawa Yoshinobu, returning the authority to the Imperial Court in 1867, was signed.
link : www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/58-Nijo-Castle
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nijo_Castle
Shuri Castle (首里城) - Okinawa-ken - reconstructed in 1992
The inner area of this castle was complete in the early 15th century, and the outer one in the mid-16th Century. Being isolated from the rest of the country, Shuri Castle do not resemble to the castles found on the main japanese island, but rather shows a strong influence of Chinese architecture. Shurijo Castle was both the royal residence for the king and his family and the administrative center of the Shurijo Royal Government, and also served as a religious center.
The castle was completely destroyed in 1945 by US military raids. The present structure was modeled after the 18th Century facility.
link : www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/69-Shuri-Castle
www.shurijo.com/english/index.html
|