The daimyo, or samurai lords, of feudal Japan built magnificent castles both for prestige and for more practical reasons... Given the near-constant state of warfare that prevailed during much of shogunate Japan, the daimyo needed fortresses.
- Himeji Castle on a Sunny Winter DayBright winter sun glints of Himeji Castle, built 1333-1346 A.D. in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Himeji Castle in SpringHimeji was first built by the Akamatsu Clan, and was rebuilt by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1580.
- A Museum Diorama in Himeji CastleDiorama: Two women and a cat demonstrate daily life in Himeji Castle.
- Fushimi CastleFushimi was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who reunited Japan after the Warring States Period.
- Fushimi Castle BridgeFushimi Castle, aka Momoyama Castle, in Kyoto.
- Nagoya CastleOda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu reunified Japan after the "Warring States" (Sengoku) Period.
- Gujo Hachiman CastleThe founding builder was Endo Morikazu, whose son became one of Oda Nobunaga's retainers.
- Danjiri Festival at Kishiwada CastleParticipants pull carts shaped like temples, called "danjiri," through the streets of Osaka.
- Matsumoto CastleMatsumoto Castle is nicknamed "Crow Castle" because of its black color and wing-like structure.
- Matsumoto Castle Roof DetailsRoofline details of Matsumoto Castle in Nagano Prefecture (1504).
- Nakatsu CastleThe entire castle was burned down during the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877, and rebuilt in 1964.
- Daimyo Armor at Nakatsu CastleYoshitaka family armor on display at Nakatsu Castle, in Oita Prefecture, Japan.
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