I Stopped At...

Matsumoto Castle is situated in the middles of a very busy city , Matsumoto, Nagano. It is very famous as one of the beautiful castles in Japan. It stands majestically in the middle of a moat, a common safety measure in old Japan. Actually, the Japanese alps can be seen in the background. We wanted to go inside but the waiting time was more than one and half hour so we decided to give up seeing the interior. This is the view from the outside of the castle premises. A swan, the safety waters, bushy wall and the main tower of Matsumoto Castle far behind. all in one picture. The trip to this castle was unexpected. We dropped in , on our way back from Kamikochi unplanned with little time left . So I apologize for little information I provide. Please refer to the following link for more information. http://www.matsumoto-castle.jp/lang/eng/about Thank You Amilendra, Dan , Patali, Pasanga, Hasani for joining thi sudden stop. All Rights Reserved.

2009/08/11 Hiroshima castle is not a famous castle in Japan. I know it is not the best way to start the post but it is the truth. But for me it was one of the most interesting castles in Japan. Unlike most of the castles I have visited, Hiroshima castle was built of wood. walls, floor, ceilings were all wooden. The castle you see today is not the original castle which was built some hundred years ago. The original castle was burnt down completely and this was the reconstructed version.  I has great respect to this castle because it stood tall against the great disaster of the atomic bomb.  Inside the castle has turned in to a small museum. Swords, knives and interior designing materials are displayed. Well, this photo below is of a carriages used to carry high ranked people around. This was also used in Sri Lanka too. I have seen such carriages in several museums through out Japan and I always wondered about one single thing. How did they man...

 2011/08/03     I was in Hikone of Shiga prefecture for over a week. It was a business trip so unfortunately we did not have enough time to enjoy the area. As the hotel was just kilometers away from the famous Hikone Castle, my friend and I took the free time on the way back after work to drop by the castle. It was past 5o`clock in the evening so the entrance was officially closed. But the in-charge personnel were kind enough to let us go up and enjoy the castle premises.   This is one old fashioned gateway to the castle. There were several gates and entrances to the premises.  This was the second entrance and the photo was taken from above. In the far end , the bell can be seen. This is yet being rung on occasions in Hikone. The castle premises were joined by several bridges like this one. In early stages there had been a mechanism to raise the bridges when needed. But now they are supported bu some wooden pi...

24/07/2011 The main entrance to the Kochi Castle The Kochi castle built by a family called Yamauchi after the victory of Tokugawa. This castle boasts of its original buildings still standing majestically. According to the Wikipedia   "Though no battles were fought at the castle, it is noteworthy because the castle is the original structure, and not a post was replica. It is also the only castle in Japan to retain both its original tenshu, or keep and its palace.In fact, it is the only castle to have all the original buildings in the  honmaru, or innermost ring of the defense  still standing." From the photos below  you can see the castle entrance and the open area where the old palace buildings used to stand some several hundred years ago. From here onward you shall be introduced to the ancient technology used in the castle and still can be witnessed. These were used to remove water fro...

 2008/01/02 This castle was once the home to the powerful rulers nearly nine hundred years ago. This was destroyed , rebuilt and destroyed again several times and was finally brought to this state in Edo period. According to the Japan castle Foundation this castle is one of the finest reconstructed castles in Japan.   The moat of the castle  The entrance to the highland of the  castle premises  The main tower of the Odawara castle  Entrance to the main tower The rear of the Akagane gate This was my first trip t o see the castles in Japan and mainly one of the first big trips I ever made in Japan. Special thanks go to my host family Mr & Mrs. Deguchi for these unforgettable memories. All Rights Reserved.

2009/08/10 The Rock Plate at the entrance Just get down at the Hyogo station and walk down the market street and you will ens up at this gorgeous castle premises. Himeji Castle which is also called  Shirasag jo which means "white heron castle" is one of the most beautiful castles in Japan. According to the Wikipedia this is the "  finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, comprising a network of 83 buildings with advanced defensive systems from the feudal period. " This is now a UNESCO　World Heritage site since 1993. Himeji Castle Himeji Castle with the "three country moat" at the foreground                     　     Old wells of the castle Ghost stories are woven around these wells, about suiciding maids, and their spirits are heard to be still haunting the premises.   Inside the main ...

05/08/2010 The Shiroishi Castle Shiroishi castle was of a serving family to Date Masamune the ruler of Sendai in the edo period. it is not a big castle but worth to see the old architecture. The entrance gate to the castle Three storied watch  tower Inside the watch tower where armors were kept View of Sendai town from the top and the castle grounds The castle grounds The entrance was 300yen. well, the cool air at teh top floor was worth the money. as this is situated somewhat away from the shiroishi station we burrowed free bicycles  at the station and rode all the way. The scorching sun was never kind to us so the cold water springs at the shrines and temples in the area helped a lot through out the journey. All Rights Reserved.