Representing both wartime and peaceful times

Matsumoto Castle stood quietly in the darkness of the night. Head of the management office, Otake, greeted us. Matsumoto Castle was built in the 1590’s in the age of civil wars. Around 1630, feudal lord Naomasa Tokunaga built ”Tsukimi Yagura (moon viewing tower)” to welcome Shogun Iemitsu Tokunaga. ”The two buildings that were built at a very contradictory era stand side by side, reflecting the era each was built”. Matsumoto Castle has small window-like openings for guns and spears, and ”ishi otoshi” to drop stones at the enemy during time of war.

Admiring the castle at moon viewing feast

It was the ”chushu no meigetsu (mid-autumn moon)” when we visited. As in the Edo era, people gathered for the special festival, admiring the castle while listening to the performance of traditional Japanese instruments. ”Chushin Sankyou Corporation” group gave special performance from ”Tsukimi Yagura” just like the old days. The sound of ”koto” and ”shakuhachi” echoed in the air, and Nakata commented, ”it feels refined and luxurious” as he enjoyed the evening scenery with music.

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The Beginning and End of the Edo Period

When we hear the word ”Nijo Castle” many may instantly think of ”Taiseihokan”. Indeed at the last days of the of the Edo period, the last Shogun Yoshinobu Tokugawa proclaimed the Taiseihokan at the Ninomaru Palace of the Nijo castle. . This triggered the demise of the Tokugawa Shogunate, so you may say this is the place where one era was terminated. However, it is also where Edo period was given birth. Nijo Castle was created in 1603 by orders of Ieyasu Tokugawa who had proclaimed victory at the battle of Sekigahara.

Architecture that Gathered Essence of Beauty

In that same year Ieyasu was designated ”Seitaishogun honin”, and had paid respects to the imperial court at the palace, as was the custom since the Muromachi period. Later he was officially designated as ”Shogun” and that was the full-scale start up of the Edo period. Nijo Castle is attributed as treasured asset culturally and artistically, designated with UNESCO World Heritage as Cultural asset to old capital Kyoto, the Ninomaru Palace designated National Treasure, the Ninomaru Palace Gardens designated as Special Scenic Spot of the Nation. The palace was witness to both the beginning and end of the Edo period.

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The castle situated at a key location in Sanyo

There are four castles that are designated as National Treasures: Matsumoto Castle in Nagano, Hikone Castle in Shiga, Inuyama Castle in Aichi, and Himeji Castle here in Hyogo. Himeji Castle was constructed in the period of the Northern and Southern Courts in the 14th century, and not during the Period of the Warring States.
The beginning of the castle is believed to be a fort that Norimura Akamatsu built on Mt. Hime while advancing his troops to Kyoto under the order of Prince Moriyoshi in 1333.

Located on Sanyo-do Road, Himeji Castle played a major role as an important base for the states in western Japan throughout the Muromachi Period, Period of the Warring States, and the Edo Periods. During the Period of the Warring States, Hideyoshi Hashiba (Toyotomi) lived in the castle to conquer the Chugoku region. In Edo Period, many hereditary ”daimyos” stayed there as domain administrative headquarters of Himeji Domain, such as the Ikedas and the Hondas.

Registered as a World Heritage site

Himeji Castle is also called Shirasagi-jo (meaning ”white egret castle”) because of its appearance of having white-painted walls that look like a flying egret. The current appearance was completed soon after the Tokugawa Shogunate was set up. Terumasa Ikeda drastically refurbished Himeji Castle after being allowed to move into the castle in return for his contribution in the Battle of Sekigahara. There are only 12 castles that still keep the castle tower constructed in Edo Period.
Himeji Castle is one of the precious castles that preserves the original castle tower while having never been involved in large-scale battles. It was bombed during World War II, but miraculously the incendiary bombs failed to explode.

Himeji Castle currently welcomes a large number of domestic and international visitors, having been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle overlooks the world of today while maintaining the same appearance since the Edo Period. The sight of the beautiful figure against a backdrop of wide open blue sky is breathtaking.

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