During Japan’s Sengoku “Warring States” era (1467-1615), castles were constructed, bolstered and fortified all across the Japanese archipelago, resulting in approximately 5,000 individual keeps.
Though many were razed at the behest of the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Edo period (1603-1868) and subsequently following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, when power was restored to the emperor, over a hundred remain throughout the country today.
Here are some of Japan’s best castles that you can still visit.
1, Hirosaki Castle
2, Shuri-jo Castle
3, Edo Castle
4, Matsumoto Castle
5, Nagoya Castle
6, Osaka Castle
7, Nijo Castle
8, Inuyama Castle
9, Hikone Castle
10, Bicchu Matsuyama Castle
11, Himeji Castle
12, Matsue Castle
13, Kumamoto Castle
I – Word Understanding
Bolstered – reinforced / supported
Fortified – made strong and secure
Archipelago – a group of islands
Keeps – protected properties (castles)
Razed – destroyed / demolished
Behest – command
II – Have Your Say
1, In your own words, explain or describe the following:
a, Tokugawa Shogunate
b, Edo Period
c, Meiji Restoration
2, Which castles in Japan have you visited? Describe those castles and explain the importance of preserving them.
