Matsumoto Castle – Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan

Matsumoto Castle – Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan

Matsumoto Castle (松本城), originally known as Fukashi Castle, is one of Japan’s premier historic castles, along with Himeji and Kumamoto. The building is also known as the “Crow Castle” (烏城) due to its black exterior. It was the seat of Matsumoto Domain under the Edo Period Tokugawa shogunate. It is located in the city of Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture and is within easy reach of Tokyo by road or rail.

The keep (tenshukaku), which was completed in the late sixteenth century, maintains its original wooden interiors and external stonework. It is listed as a National Treasure of Japan, and is one of the twelve remaining original tenshu in Japan.

Matsumoto Castle is a flatland castle (hirajiro) because it is not built on a hilltop or amid rivers, but on a plain. Its complete defences would have included an extensive system of inter-connecting walls, moats, and gatehouses.

On April 6, 2006 Matsumoto Castle was selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Castles.

The second floor of the main keep features a gun museum, Teppo Gura, with a collection of guns, armor, and other weapons.

Video Source: Matsumoto Castle, Nagano 【国宝 松本城】夜のライトアップと紅葉 from この美しい地球で遊びながら、魂のよろこびを生きる on Youtube CC BY

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