Word of Mouth Travel Guide - Japan Hopper » natinal treasure http://www.japan-hopper.com For all your Japan related needs by word of mouth - Hotels, Restaurants, Activities, and much more! Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:20:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 ja Matsumoto Castle(Matsumoto) “Kodaman’s J-TRIP” http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/02/12_211403.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/02/12_211403.php#comments Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:42:04 +0000 kodaman http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/02/12_211403.php My wife’s family lives in Chino city in Nagano prefecture. Therefore, we went back to Nagano to meet them on December 2007. Because I have been lots of castles in Japan, I wanted to go to Matsumoto Castle which is one of four castles designated as National Treasures of Japan. This castle was constructed from 1592. Because the roof of Matsumoto castle is black, this is sometimes called “the Crow Castle”. Why this castle is black is because this is the proof of loyalty to Hideyoshi Toyotomi whose castle in Osaka(called Osaka castle) is also black.

matsumoto castlematsumoto castle2

In 1872,Meiji era after Edo era , the orner put this castle on a auction. However Ryozou Ichikawa,who was an assembly member in Nagano prefecture later, tried to stop and finally bought this castle back. If one bought and demolished this castle , Japanese would loose one of the representative of our culture and a wonderful scene.

matsumoto castle

We can enter inside castle and go up to the top but step stairs are so steep. Please be careful. Looking inside need 40min or more,therefore I think one needs to go inside before 16:00.(Close 17:00)

The eastan gate has been rebuilt recently.

-Matsumoto Castle-

[Access] 15 min from Matsumoto station

[Price] Adult ¥600,ES/JHS ¥ 300

[Open] 8:30am – 4:30pm (doors close 5 pm)

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