Himeji Castle

One of the most enduring images of Japan by westerners and locals (inclusive of Mokes and Titas) are the Japanese castles that we see in the Samurai movies.

Many times these castles are depicted as ornate and luxurious quarters of shogun and feudal lords. To a certain extent this image is true, but only for a small portion of the building.

A tour of any castle reveals its true identity, a strategic military headquarters. We enter the caste grounds through a mon or a gate. This mon is usually protected by a natural barrier such as a river or a moat. Access to the mon is via bridge.

The first mon is not the only gate that you pass through. Actually one must cross a series of mon to actually get to the main castle. There is a winding path uphill and one must pass through a series of gates to the castle. When you walk the castle grounds, you notice that the landscaping and the architecture incorporate strategic features to ward off enemies. Sharp turn in the path, varying heights and widths of the gates and strategic placement of trees and stones are incorporated to make it very difficult for the enemies to get to the main buildings. You will notice that many times, the gates get smaller as you proceed to the castle.

Castles are located at the highest point in the region. This serves many purposes. The castle has a 360 degree view of the kingdom and is able to spot any potential attackers. Secondly, the defense of the castle is much easier working down hill since the attackers will be working up hill and be barraged with arrows and stones.

Once you get into the castle, another maze awaits. The castles are usually five to eight stories in height. One must traverse a series of stairs and paths to get to the shogun. There are many trap doors and secret rooms to hide in.

Once you get to the top of the castle you are greeted with a great view of the surrounding village or town. But it will take some time for you to catch your breath. The path to the top is longer than you think.

Here are some websites:
http://www.jcastle.info/castle/
http://www.castlejapan.com/
http://www.jgc.co.jp/waza/a5_himeji/castle01.htm



This picture is taken at Himeji castle. It is one of the few castles that survived the wars and fires. Built in 1601. BTW, this is the Abarenbo Shogun castle.

Odawara Castle

On November 8, 2006, we visited Odawara Castle.

Odawara Castle is about a 1.5 hour train ride on the Tokaido Line from Tokyo. Odawara is a coastal city located south of Tokyo.

The Odawara Castle is located on top of a hill overlooking the city. The castle is strategically located such that there is a 360 degree view of the area.

From Odawara station, it is a 15 minute week uphill to the castle entrance. The grounds of the castle includes an glass museum and a zoo. One cannot help but notice the elephant and monkeys. From the base, the castle is an awesome site.



Our trek begins with stairs leading to the castle entrance. Above is a picture of our group on our way up in to the castle.

Inside the castle is a museum. Included are models of the castle structure, architectural features of the building and a history of the Hojo clan. There are displays of everyday working tools as well as weapons handled by the samurai. There is also a photo display of the castles throughout Japan.

If you look closely you will notice hidden panels, trap doors and lookouts throughout the castle.

We walk up the steep stairs of the castle to get to the top.

To be continued.

Kamakura

Travel Journal


Kamakura is a city (OK, town) located one hour south of Tokyo. It is a coastal town which once served as the center of government and culture during the Kamakura Period. In 1192 Shogun Minamoto Yoritomo established Kamakura as the center of his military government. It was the capital for about 100 years.

Kamakura has many temples and shrines and is home to many national treasures.

The most noticable memorial of this government is the statue of the Great Buddha built in 1252 by the Kamakura Bakufu (military government). The statue of the Great Buddha still stands today on the grounds of the Ktokuin Temple (Jodo sect). See the picture as it gives you perspective of its size. It stands 13.35 meters high and is made of bronze. You can even go in and see inside of the statue for a modest fee. 40 yen or some loose change???

As you enter the temple and walk toward the statue, one notices a sequence of large tree trunks. Well these are not tree trunks, rather they were once footings supporting the structure which once housed the statue. The building was washed away in a Tsunami in 1498. The statue did not move.

The statue is located in a peaceful temple. Sitting at one of the benches in the courtyard, you can see the squirrels running from branch to branch.

Kamakura is located near the Pacific Ocean, the towns near Kamakura is known for its fresh seafood including mussles.

Kamakura is also known for its arts and crafts community.

Check out this website.

http://www.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp/english/