Castles in Japan

I list castles in Japan, to which I visited and took pictures, from east to west.

#. Tsuruga-jo (visited on 2013-04-28, in Fukushima Prefecture)
In the wake of Great East Earthquake and ensuing nuclear crisis in Fukushima, Tohoku region was in difficult situation and still is in 2016. But cherry blossoms bloomed to cheer people up in every spring.

With cherry blossoms, April 2013

With pine trees, April 2013

#. Matsumoto castle (visited on 2016-05-05, 2016-10-07, in Nagano Prefecture)

Clear sky, May 2016

Donjon reflected on moat at night, October 2016

#. Hikone castle (visited on several occasions, in Shiga Prefecture)
This part of Shiga prefecture seems to have a lot of snow, but this was my first time to see snow-capped Hikone castle. Japan got a tons of mascots for cities, towns, castles, temples, and virtuously anything to attract visitors. Hikonyan, the mascot of Hikone castle, was actually the first successful one starting around 2005(?). The snow statue of Hikonyan was a kind of artwork.

Snow capped donjon, December 2016

Snow statue of Hikonyan, popular mascot of Hikone castle, December 2016

Snow capped Genkyu-an garden in Hikone castle, December 2016

#. Himeji castle (visited on several occasions, in Hyogo Prefecture)

After great Heisei renovation, January 2015

After great Heisei renovation, January 2015

#. Matsuyama castle (visited on 2014-02-xx, in Ehime Prefecture)


#. Matsue castle (visited on 2012-05-xx, in Shimane Prefecture)