Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle (Tsuruga castle)

Overview: Aizu Wakamatsu Castle is located in the center of the Aizu basin, one of the most important palces in north east Japan, at crossroads to Kōriyama to the north and Yonezawa to the east and Murakami on the Sea of Japan coast. The original tenshu, main tower, under the Gamō clan was a massive seven-story structure with black walls and gold roof tiles, similar to Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s Osaka Castle. The tenshu rebuilt by the by Katō clan was smaller and was painted white. At the end of Edo era, the last fudal lord, Matsudaira Katamori was one of the Shōgunate’s most loyalist supporter of the Toklugawa shogunate, become one of the leaders in the pro-Tokugawa alliance against the new Meiji government. After long battle to the new gorvernment, the Boshin War, the Castle was besieged in October 1868. The surviving castle buildings were demolished by the new government in 1874. One building survived the destruction by being relocated to a Buddhist temple, Amida-ji, five-kilometers from the castle.

Name: Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle (Tsuruga castle)

Place: 1-1.Oitemachi, Aizuwakamatsu

Admission JPY 410

Built: 1384 by Ashina Naomori ( called as Kurokawa Castle)

Owner : Ashina Naomori and Ashina clan, Date Masamune, Gamō Ujisato (general of Toyotomi Hideyoshi), Uesugi Kagekatsu, Katō Yoshiaki, Hoshina Masayuki and his successors Matsudaira clan

Official website: https://www.tsurugajo.com/tsurugajo/   (Japanese only)  https://www.tsurugajo.com/e/turugajo.html

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aizuwakamatsu_Castle

Osaka castle

Overview: This castle is one of Japan’s most famous landmarks and it played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Osaka Castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi on the place of Osaka Honganji Temple (Ishiyama Honganji Temple) after the fought against Nobunaga Oda, Toyotomi’s formwer master. After fell during the Siege of Osaka, it was rebuilt by the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Name: Osaka castle

Place: 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo Ward, Osaka

Admission JPY 600

Built: 1583

Built by: Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Official website: https://www.osakacastle.net/

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osaka_Castle

Odawara Castle

After the Uesugi Zenshū Revolt of 1416, Odawara came under the control of the Omori clan of Suruga. They were in turn defeated by Ise Moritoki of Izu, founder of the Odawara Hōjō clan in 1495. Five generations of the Odawara Hōjō clan improved and expanded on the fortifications of Odawara Castle as the center of their domains, which encompassed most of the Kantō region.
After the Battle of Odawara in 1590, Toyotomi Hideyoshi forced the surrender of the Odawara Hōjō, he awarded the holdings of the Odawara Hōjō to his leading general Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Under the control of the Tokugawa Shogunate, during the Edo period, several daimyo, including the Tenryo,directly controlled by the Tokugawa family, and Inaba, and Okubo clans, who were feudalized as lords.
Odawara Castle had very strong defenses, as it was situated on a hill, surrounded by moats with water on the low side, and dry ditches on the hill side, with banks, walls and cliffs located all around the castle.

小田原城

小田原城

小田原城

小田原城

小田原城

Name: Odawara Castle

Place: Jonai, Odawara, Kanagawa, Odawara Castle Park

Admission JPY 510

Built: 1447, rebuilt 1633, 1706

Owner : Omori clan, Odawara Hōjō clan, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Inaba clan, Okubo clan

Overview:

Link: Odawara city: https://www.city.odawara.kanagawa.jp/kanko/language/english/castle.html

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odawara_Castle

Nijo-jo Castle

Celebration ceremony of the inauguration of the shogun for Ieyasu was operated in 1603.
Declaration of returning the authority to the Imperial Court by 15th Shogun Yoshinobu, was issued In 1867.
Ninomaru Palace consists of five connected separate buildings. One of the most striking features of the buildings are the “nightingale floors” in the corridors that make a chirping sound when walked upon.
The Ninomaru garden was designed by the landscape architect and tea master Kobori Enshū.

Name: Nijo-jo Castle

Place: 541 Nijojocho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 

Admission JPY 800

Built: 1601: Building was started by Ieyasu, the founder of the TOKUGAWA shogunate, as a residence in Kyoto in 1601, completed during the reign of 3rd Shogun Iemitsu in 1626.

Owner : TOKUGAWA Ieyasu and TOKUGAWA shoguns

Overview:

Link: https://nijo-jocastle.city.kyoto.lg.jp/service/?lang=en

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nij%C5%8D_Castle

Imperial Palace Kyoto

The history of Kyoto Imperial palace started from 794 when Emperor Kanmu (50th emperor) moved the capital to Heian-kyo (Kyoto). Kyoto Imperial palace was residence of the Japanese emperors until 1869 when Emperor Meiji (122th emperor) moved to Tokyo.Even after Emperor Meiji moved to Tokyo, the palace was used for important national ceremonies including enthronement ceremonies for Emperor Taisyo (123th emperor)  and Emperor Showa (124th emperor) .
Akihito Emperor Emeritus (125th emperor ) implemented enthronement ceremonies in Imperial Palace Tokyo as well as Naruhito Emperor (126th and current emperor ) had.
The complex currently standing was completed in 1855, with an attempt at reproducing the Heian period architecture and style of the original buildings of the Heian Palace.

Name: Imperial palace Kyoto

Place: 3 Kyotogyoen, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Gyoen National Garden

Admission free

Built: The place of palace had been moved several times when it was damaged or destroyed by fire, the present place was served over 500 years since Emperor Kogen (1st Hokucyo Emperor) was enthroned in 1331.The present structures were reconstructed in 1855.

Owner : Imperial family

Overview:

Link: Imperial household agency

https://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/guide/kyoto.html

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Imperial_Palace

Overview: Basic structure of the castle was built by OTA Dokan, a famous samurai warrior and buddhist monk.TOKUGAWA Ieyasu made Edo Castle his base after he was offered eight eastern provinces (Kanto Plain) by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. After Ieyasu received the title of Sei-i Taishōgun in 1603, Edo became the center of Tokugawa’s administration.
It was the residence of the shōgun and location of the shogunate, and also functioned as the military capital during the Edo period of Japanese history. After the resignation of the shōgun and the Meiji Restoration, it became the Tokyo Imperial Palace since 1869. Before that, the Imperial Palace in Kyoto was residence of Emperors almost 1,100 years.
Some moats, walls and ramparts of the castle survive to this day. Current East gardens was the place for main administrative buildings including former Honmaru (literally the main circle) and Ninomaru (the second circle) and the main keep or tower (known as the tenshudai) areas of Edo Castle. The keep and its multiple roofs were constructed in 1607 and ornamented with gold. It was destroyed in the 1657 Fire of Meireki and not reconstructed. The foundations of the keep are all that is left. After the fire of Nishinomaru Palace (formerly the shōgun’s residence) in 1873, the new imperial Palace Castle was constructed on the site in 1888.
After some reconstruction, current the Imperial Palace and the headquarters of the Imperial Household Agency are located in the former Nishinomaru enceinte (West Citadel) of the Edo Castle. Admission: free, entering to the area of the Imperial Palace (Nishinomaru area) is allowed only by guided tour (reservation in advance recommended) and entering the East gardens is free (no reservation).

Name: Imperial palace (Former Edo castle)

Place: 1-1 Chiyoda Chiyoda Tokyo

Admission free

Built: 1457, Imperial palace from 1869

Owner : OTA Dokan, TOKUGAWA Ieyasu and TOKUGAWA shoguns, Meiji Emperor and later Emperors

Link:

guided tour of the Imperial Palace: https://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/guide/koukyo.html

opening hours: the East gardens https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-event/higashigyoen02.html

map of the Imperial Palace https://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/guide/access_map_kokyo.html

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Imperial_Palace