History of Japanese Castles

Above, Osaka Castle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since tourism travel to Japan is out of the question at present, now may be a good time to bone up on Japanese history and get some ideas on places to visit when tourism is finally allowed again.

Jobs In Japan has posted an article on the history of Japanese castles that one may find interesting.

According to the article, some castles are the "real deal", while others are reproductions made of modern materials (concrete) after the originals were destroyed for one reason or another. Some were specifically targeted for bombing during World War II. The article will tell why.

They begin with:

Japanese castles are must-see monuments when visiting Japan. Contemplating them will make you appreciate the originality and complexity of each one of them and be able to know the history of the Japanese country. Unlike European castles, Japanese castles were not built to be used as dwellings, but were mostly fortifications.

To read the full article, go here. 

Japan's Most Impressive Castles

Above, now dry, one of the former moat of Osaka Castle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A trip to Japan isn't really complete without visiting at least one castle.

I've been to three of them: Osaka Castle, Nijo Castle (Kyoto) and the ruins of Sendai Castle.

Japan Cheapo has an article on the ten most impressive castles to visit in Japan.

They begin with:

When you think “castle”, the image of Rapunzel-esque European castles might come to mind—with imposing stone ramparts and tall towers at each corner. Japanese castles, on the other hand, stem from a completely different tradition. While they are surrounded by moats and tall stone walls, the main structures have always been constructed from wood. As a result, few structures have survived the great fires that swept cities during the times of the shoguns, the anti-feudal destruction of the late 19th century Meiji period, and the incendiary bombs dropped on Japan during World War II.  

 What makes a good castle? 

A small number of Japanese castles have survived the fires and turmoil and are more or less as they were during the castle building boom of the 16th and 17th centuries. However, most castles you see today are post–World War II reconstructions. Some were thrown up using steel reinforced concrete, while some of the reconstructions, from the 1980s, have been done using traditional construction techniques, faithful to those used in the 1600s. However, you can’t just dismiss the concrete reconstructions completely. Many are important historical reminders and have become icons of the cities in which they are located.

To read more, go here. 

Japan's 7 Most Incredible Castles

Above, Sendai Castle, number 3 on the list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is fascinated by feudal Japanese history, a visit to a Japanese castle is something that should be on their "must-do" list.

Japan has many castles to explore and LearnJapanese123 has a spotlight article on seven of the "most incredible" ones.

They begin with:

Japan has over 200 castles, called shiro (城) in Japanese. Many of these ancient, well-preserved fortresses are Japanese National Treasures and World Heritage Sites. Here are some of the must-see castles in Japan and what they’re famous for!

Intro 

At one time, Japan had over 25,000 castles. This was due to the fact that during the 15th century, Japan entered a period of civil war called the “sengoku jidai” (戦国時代). Castles were built by the thousands and played an incredibly important role during that time. They are more than just beautiful – they are good protection during times of war.
Although we are now in a time of peace, today, over 200 castles are still open for visitors to explore in and around. These incredible fortresses contain elements that are beautiful remnants of history, and appreciated by millions of visitors every year. A handful of these castles have towers which stand in their original, unaltered forms, and others have been carefully and accurately recreated.

To read more, go here. 

Visiting Japanese Castles

Above, yours truly at Osaka Castle.

Japan has a number of castles of the medieval era, some are authentic and some are reproductions. But a visit to a Japanese castle is always a fun outing.

Wander Wisdom has an article on "5 Spectacular Japanese Castles You Have To Visit".

It begins with:

No architecture is as instantly recognizable as Japanese castles. As much as Mount Fuji itself, spectacular Japanese castles symbolize the exoticism of the Land of the Rising Sun, particularly its war-torn medieval era. With so many original or reconstructed castles still found across Japan, no visitor should forgo the chance to experience one or more of these magnificent citadels. 

Here are five of the most famous and spectacular Japanese castles for you should consider visiting. All are established tourist hot spots and are extremely convenient to get to.

The article also includes helpful tips on visiting castles.

To read more, go here.