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Castles
Castles are among the most visited attractions in Japan. There are hundreds of them all over the country, with many of the ancient structures
having undergone restoration and renovation through the years for historic preservation.
History
The construction of castles in Japan started as early as the 7th century, when they were built for defensive purposes. They served as fortresses
where lords, rulers and noble families could live safely when beset by invaders and rival clans.
In the 1400s and 1500s, the rise in the number of castle towns happened quickly, as wars spread across the country. The feudal lords ordered
the building of larger fortifications and hired samurai warriors to protect them against their enemies.
During the Meiji Restoration period, several of these castles were intentionally destroyed by local people wishing to expunge the reminder of
the terrors of feudalism, while others were damaged due to wars. In the past decades, many of them have been reconstructed and are now
open to the public as museums.
Kumamoto Castle
Matsuyama Castle
Common Features
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Tenshukaku – The main castle tower or castle keep. It can be three, five, seven, or more storeys high. It served as the official command
headquarters and residence of the daimyo.
Goten – Also called the palace, it housed the offices of the daimyo’s staff and subordinates. In some cases, it was also used as the
official residence of the daimyo.
Yagura – These guard towers are found at wall corners and have clear views of the surroundings. In addition to being watchtowers, they
were also used as astronomy towers and water towers.
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