The Japanese treat their culture and history with care and respect, everything that their ancestors left them. Castles of magnificent beauty, which are visually very different from European fortifications, are no exception. Today, visitors to Japan can see more than 50 unique castles. Some of them have retained their original appearance, others have been partially or completely reconstructed.
Odawara Castle (on the map)
During the Warring States Era, the castle, located in the city of Odawara, regularly took part in battles. It was besieged, restored and completed several times. Built in 1418, the castle was surrounded by a moat with water, which, combined with earthen ramparts, presented an almost insurmountable obstacle for the troops besieging it. However, there were dark days in the history of the castle. In 1590, he was surrounded by Toyotomi Hideyoshi along with his 20,000-strong army. After 100 days of defense, the fortification fell and many buildings were destroyed. Restoration work and archaeological excavations began only in 1938, when Odawara Castle received the status of a national historical monument.
Currently, there is a museum on the castle grounds with an exhibition dedicated to samurai. A variety of items from their everyday life are presented here, ranging from weapons and armor to traditional outfits. In addition, the castle houses a library, an amusement park and a zoo, from which, however, only a few enclosures with monkeys remain, as well as a restored donjon – the main five-story tower of the castle. On the last tier there is an observation deck with stunning views of the city and surrounding area. Initially it was not there; the site was installed specifically for numerous tourists. The museum is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00. The entrance ticket costs 40 yen (25 rubles). You can get to Odawara from Tokyo by express or regular train, the trip will not take more than 1.5 hours.
Osaka Castle (on the map)
The five-story Osaka Castle is one of the most impressive buildings in Japan. The area of the castle is approximately 1 square kilometer. It was built in the 16th century to protect trade routes. Up to 30 thousand people participated in the construction process; Despite such a number of workers, construction was completed only 13 years after the laying of the first stone. In the center of the fortification there is an 8-story tower with five above-ground and three underground floors.
In 1614, the Osaka Campaign, a war between the Edo shogunate and the Toyotomi samurai clan, began with the siege of this castle. The siege lasted more than two months, but did not bring any results. On January 19, 1615, the 200,000-strong army of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu was forced to retreat.
Since its construction, Osaka Castle has been destroyed more than once. The fortification was worst damaged by fire in 1665. A lightning strike on the main tower led to catastrophic consequences – almost all the buildings located on the castle territory burned down. The restoration of the buildings took several centuries and ended only in the 30s of the last century. Many of the newly rebuilt structures were damaged by American bombing during World War II.
Work on the final reconstruction of the castle was completed only by 1997, but the restorers were never able to completely restore the interior of the castle’s premises and rooms. Despite this, the fortress has not lost its attractiveness for numerous tourists and the Japanese themselves. On the territory of the complex you can see several preserved houses and barracks, the Jaguar Tower and the Otemon Gate.
Osaka Castle is open to visitors from 9:00 to 17:00. It is located in the historical center of the city, but if you are in the capital, the best way to get to Osaka is by high-speed train, which runs every 30 minutes and takes you to your destination in 3 hours. The entrance fee is 600 yen (390 rubles).
Himeji Castle (on the map)
This castle is the only one in Japan that has not suffered from numerous earthquakes, wars and fires. Its second name is White Heron Castle. The polished and elegant forms of the castle can often be seen in films. For example, in the film “The Last Samurai” with Tom Cruise or in one of the Bond episodes.
The castle is not only a national treasure of Japan, but is also protected by UNESCO. There are 83 buildings on the territory of the complex, almost all of them are built of wood. Next to the main tower there was once a palace, not far from which there was a small courtyard of the Harakiri Maru. It was considered the place where a samurai was supposed to commit ritual suicide, but, according to historians, nothing of the kind happened in this courtyard. Perhaps the most exciting entertainment for tourists is a walk through the complex and intricate labyrinths of the castle, which were specially designed to mislead enemy troops.
Himeji Castle is open to visitors every day from 9:00 to 18:00 in the summer and until 17:00 in the winter. You can get here from Tokyo by train (about 4 hours journey). From the train station you will have to walk about 15 minutes. The entrance ticket costs 600 yen (390 rubles). To visit the observation deck you must take a separate ticket. Its price is 200 yen (130 rubles).
Aizuwakamatsu Castle (on the map)
Built in 1834, Aizuwakamatsu Castle was one of the main political, military and administrative centers of Japan. During the civil war in 1868, the fortress became the last stronghold of the shogun’s associates and withstood a month-long siege before its walls and internal buildings were destroyed by imperial troops. Now on the site of the ancient castle there is an almost exact copy of it, which was built in 1965. The museum complex is located approximately 100 kilometers from Fukushima. The trip from Tokyo takes approximately 5 hours. The castle is open to tourists from 8:30 to 17:00, the price of a comprehensive ticket for an adult (visiting the castle and the teahouse) is 500 yen (325 rubles), for children – 150 yen (100 rubles).
Matsumoto Castle (on the map)
The second name of Matsumoto Castle is Raven Castle. It is associated with a black roof, reminiscent of the outstretched wings of this bird. The structure, erected in 1594, is considered the symbol of the city of Matsumoto, which is located 3 hours drive from Tokyo. Two well-fortified watchtowers served as watchtowers. In 1635, a third small tower appeared, which served as an observatory: here Japanese astronomers observed the stars and the moon. This tower is open to visitors only once a year, on September 23rd, when the Lunar Festival is held.
Today, a museum is organized inside Matsumoto Castle, in the halls of which samples of weapons are exhibited. Through the wooden windows, which were once used by riflemen to fire at the enemy, a wonderful view of the city, mountains and the fortress moat opens, in the waters of which snow-white swans swim. Admission for adults is 600 yen (390 rubles), and for children – 300 yen (195 rubles).
Maruoka Castle (on the map)
During the cherry blossom season, this castle “hides” behind a white and pink haze. That is why it received the nickname “castle in the fog.” There is also a belief that when the enemy approaches, heavenly forces envelop the fortress in a thick veil, and it becomes invisible to the enemy. The castle is located in Fukui Prefecture. It was built in 1576, however, in 1948 it was completely destroyed as a result of an earthquake. Already by 1955, the fortification was restored, exactly repeating the external appearance and interior. According to popular belief, a blind peasant woman was buried alive within the walls of the fortress and sacrificed to the gods. She agreed to this, setting one condition – her son would receive samurai status. However, the last will was not fulfilled, and since then the spirit of this woman has been wandering the corridors of the fortress and frightening its inhabitants.
At first glance, it may seem that the castle consists of two tiers. There are actually three of them. The castle has an observation deck with a stunning view, including the Sea of Japan. The main feature of the fortress is the staircase. It is so steep that a rope is specially strung for tourists to help them climb up. You can visit Maruoka Castle any day: it is open from 8:30 to 17:00, and the entrance ticket costs 300 yen (195 rubles).
Carp Castle (on the map)
Carp Castle in Hiroshima was built in 1589 on the banks of the Ota River, and at that time was considered the largest structure in western Japan. Initially, the castle was a wooden temple, consisting of 5 floors and surrounded by a moat with water, in which carps were found in huge numbers. A flood in 1617 significantly damaged the structure, which was later restored. During the Sino-Japanese War of 1894, the General Headquarters of the Japanese Armed Forces was based here. Unfortunately, as a result of the atomic bombing of the city in 1945, the castle was almost completely destroyed. The reconstruction of the building was completed only 13 years later. Now on the territory of the castle there is a museum complex telling about the history of the country and collecting unique examples of the work of Japanese masters.
On the highest floor of the fortress there is an observation deck where tourists can go up to admire the view of the city. Entrance to the museum, which is open every day from 9:00 to 18:000, costs 360 yen (230 rubles), and the tour takes about 2 hours.
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