Revolutionizing Castles: Nobunaga’s Vision in Warriors Building Castles

Tips for Beginners to Enjoy Castles

So, what are some enjoyable points for beginners visiting a castle?

“One of the easiest things to understand without much study is the stone walls. You can infer the era based on the way they are constructed, and if they’re high and have a curve, it indicates the style of Kiyomasa. It’s interesting to see differences in the construction methods between the original parts and the renovated sections. Unfortunately, most buildings, including those from the Edo period, have not survived, and only 12 keep the main tower still exist today. In that sense, the stone walls convey the essence of the time and are also quite easy to appreciate.

For example, the stone walls of Shirakawa Castle feature a section (called otoshi-zumi) that is constructed in a semi-circular arc, which is beautiful. Kanazawa Castle has a wide variety of stone walls, famous for its colorful stones that mix red and blue. Also, the stone walls leading up the stairs from the ‘Otemichi’ of Azuchi Castle, which have been excavated and restored, are breathtaking. And then there’s Kumamoto Castle. Although it is still under restoration, I think the curvature of the shinobi-kaeshi of the stone walls is truly impressive.”

Sometimes, it might be nice to take a moment to quietly gaze at the castle and reflect on the samurai warriors of the Warring States period.

The Warlord Builds a Castle” (Atsushi Kawai, author, Poplar New Book 263)