Osaka’s Inui Turret

     

The Inui Turret of Ōsaka castle is rare bird. Perhaps obscurely to the average punter, its twin & equal-sized levels and its’ L’ shaped footprint puts it in a category all its own. The turret, written 乾櫓 or 戌亥櫓. (It’s all explained in this post: Directions and the Chinese zodiac) is also one of the castle’s oldest buildings, being completed in the years following Tokugawa Ieyasu’s complete rebuild of the former Toyotomi stronghold.

It is said the turret was built from salvaged materials from the Hideyoshi-built main tower. I guess we'll find out for certain after we obtain a time machine to test the veracity of this rumour.

Tags: , , , ,

  • http://www.budgettrouble.com/ Anna Ikeda

    Speaking of time machines… sometimes when I see castles, I try to image what people’s lives were like back then and sadly, I always come up with only miserable thoughts – cold, bugs, cold, bugs, cold… LOL!

  • http://www.poolofzen.com コールズ・真秀

    Hello again,

    You know…. I often have the same thoughts as Anna…. Those easily treated ailments like athletes foot would harass and harangue you for eternity!

    -But on another note….. I think living in Japanese Castles wouldn’t have been too bad… especially with a nice dip in the Ofuro before bed.

    Can you go inside of the turret? I would imagine that a morning’s cup of ‘Cha would be quite nice. What a cool view overlooking the moat / pond. A moon viewing would be nice from up there too.

    -Anyway the ole’ romantic coming out.

    Nice photo my friend. (oh I think I will be in Kansai in September)

  • Anonymous

    Maybe it’s all that Star Trek, but if I could magically travel back in time, I’d like to be just a fly on the wall (not wanting to disrupt the time-line). A fly with some sort of camera, that is. And hopefully, not bothered by either the cold or other bugs.

  • Anonymous

    Maybe it’s all that Star Trek, but if I could magically travel back in time, I’d like to be just a fly on the wall (not wanting to disrupt the time-line). A fly with some sort of camera, that is. And hopefully, not bothered by either the cold or other bugs.

  • Anonymous

    Maybe it’s all that Star Trek, but if I could magically travel back in time, I’d like to be just a fly on the wall (not wanting to disrupt the time-line). A fly with some sort of camera, that is. And hopefully, not bothered by either the cold or other bugs.

  • Anonymous

    I guess life in a castle would improve the further up the tree you were. I don’t know if it’d be all tea & baths though.

    Kansai だ! Oh well, I’ll have to time a visit for then too. Beers.

  • Anonymous

    I guess life in a castle would improve the further up the tree you were. I don’t know if it’d be all tea & baths though.

    Kansai だ! Oh well, I’ll have to time a visit for then too. Beers.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_C5RYQJRNCMN5A6MVRBXMBXR7MI YoshiI

    Very informative post. I haven’t been to Osaka Castle. So I am glad to read your post. Life in the Osaka Castle would be like being the Prime Minister in Japan. It’s equivalent to a life in the White House (I guess) and so many things to do keep coming up… So I am not so into that idea…
    Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day!!!