I visited Tsuruga Castle in Aizuwakamatsu. My disappointment was that I didn’t take the elevator ride to the top of the keep. :)

Years ago when I learned that most castles are replicas I was disappointed but I understand and they are still enjoyable places to visit.

Nice! I hear you. And not just elevators, but also rope-ways and the like. Hikes up the side of a mountain are not the easiest thing.

Aside from Shimabara (which makes me vomit), I do kinda think concrete reconstructions are better than nothing. And I may’ve said before that I’m not actually inclined to enter them. I admire them from afar.

I started to write a comment, but it ended up being super long, so I guess I’ll use it for a post in my blog instead (I like it when blogs talk to each other ;-) ). 

I laughed a little because it being “super long”, that you had a lot of bad experiences at castles. Anyway, I look forward to the post & to our blogs talking more.

This list is so helpful and I’m so thankful you put this together. I think if you go into something expecting something more realistic (such as, this isn’t a true castle but something sorta like one) then you will cut down on the disappointment. I’ll be using this in my travels around Japan!

Ah hell,  I’ll probably go to them regardless.  Scoff at them and grumble my way through them… and take tons of pictures and reminisce about how cool it was later.

Thanks Kaley, I do hope it will be helpful for travellers to Japan, and of course to yourself when you do. I see you’ll be working in Western Honshu. I think it’s a pretty good spot. Yes, it’s far more rural than Kansai or Kanto, but there’s plenty of interesting places on offer N, S, E or W.

Thanks for stopping by.

That’s a pretty go way to look at it. Actually, what you just wrote pretty much reflects how I feel about every job I’ve ever had. Though I do realise that sightseeing & working are in fact quite different things.

I visited Himeji Castle during a seriously cold rainstorm in March (not sure how that happened, but it did). It was FREEZING cold and I was soaked to the bone and we all had to take off our shoes and put on slippers, so I feel like as I shuffled through the old wooden passageways and up the steps with teeth chattering and harsh winds blowing in the empty windows I got the full experience of an original castle. ;) Good times! I enjoyed that a lot more than museum-type experiences like Osaka Castle.

I find the weather in Japan generally pretty uncooperative. Sounds like your trip to Himeji had some ambiance. A bummer for any external shots though.

A castle, a rainstorm… You didn’t happy to see Scooby-Doo, his pals and a grumpy, old man wearing a mask, did you?

Hey Dan

I just wanted to let you know that I’ve actually been using your new rating system a little to get a feel as to what castles I should visit etc.  It is very handy!  I gotta tell you. I think you’re getting your improvements to the site dialed in!  Very handy.

Here’s a question.  So on the map I can put the pointer on a castle and the name comes up…  Any chance it could also show a pic of the rating scale?  :)

That would be super handy, perhaps even necessary. It’s going to require some thought.

I always appreciate suggestions, so thank you.

Thanks, I’m actually already seeing how it might to improved. I’ll be leaving a bit of time before implementing the changes. I do tend to change things a little too quickly.

Yeees, my first visit to Osaka castle opened my eyes to the disappointment that lay ahead in terms of “genuine” castles here. (Sad face included.)
Kishiwada kind of sealed the coffin even further..
Thus, thank goodness for a) Himeji, always a safe bet since it’s a World Heritage site and b) your lovely list with appropriate “puke”/”not puke” guidance. Thanks! ^^)b

So, Kishiwada castle sealed the old 古墳(こふん), did it? (I am currently hi-fiving myself.)

Yes, I’ve gone with it, but there aren’t too many others adopting the puke scale.

Thanks for dropping by Lisa, and for the advice. I won’t be continuing with The Road.

I’m not sure I have anything to say that doesn’t go without saying… Obviously, the ideal would be an intact original castle, or a reproduction that’s pretty faithful to the original. I like those that use museum-style displays and labels to walk you through the castle itself as a site (Kanazawa, I guess), rather than just using the space as a museum for the history of the city (Hiroshima), if you follow my meaning. These give the best feeling of understanding what the space actually looked like and felt like when it was in use (e.g. Nijo, Shuri).

But, failing that, in many cases I am glad that there is something there, even if it is in concrete. Fushimi-Momoyama Castle is a fine example of this – it sucks that it’s not in its original location, that it’s in concrete (I’m assuming?), that we can’t go inside, and that it might (?) be rather historically inaccurate. (I don’t know – in the case of Fushimi-Momoyama, do we have images or other documents that indicate what the castle towers looked like?) It sucks that it can’t be better. But it’s still really pretty and impressive, and I am glad that there is something, rather than nothing, there.

In those cases where there is anything to be seen without too much reproduction being done, e.g. at Fukuoka Castle, I think it’s great to have it as it is. Fukuoka reminds me of castles in Wales, where the stonework survives and has been (so far as I know) pretty much left alone, to maintain a good impression of the “reality” of just how the castle is.

Yet, in those cases where there really would be just about nothing to see if they didn’t rebuild – e.g. Hiroshima, other castles that were wholly destroyed – I am glad to have something really impressive, and attractive to visit, and engaging and educational and all that good stuff if it’s an ‘open’ castle with exhibits or displays on the inside. I am glad to have something even if it is concrete, and/or historically inaccurate. I would love to see something at some of the smaller, less major castle sites that today consist of nothing but the remains of earthen embankments, closed off as an archaeological site behind a fence (Shakujii). Many sites don’t even have that (many sites in central Kyoto, e.g. Hojoji, Sanjo Paalce).

Yes! Thank heaven, the age of concrete reproductions does appear to be over. Japan went through a real love affair with concrete from the mid-50s right through the ’70s. Cheap, easy to use, it was the wonder material of the future. Mind you, the ancient Romans pioneered its use, but they hid it by covering it with stone or brick. By itself, it doesn’t age well and it doesn’t have a soul (Sorry, Mr. Ando!). By the ’80s those in a position to influence the reconstruction of historic buildings began to realize such things and that realization, along with Japan’s heightened affluence, has brought us into a new era of respect, appreciation and a desire to preserve Japan’s wooden building traditions. 

Lol, “a love affair with concrete”. But, it’s true enough, and I’m happy that the love for concrete has gone bad.

A quick question if I may, as it’s getting very confusing with all the different social media sites, are we connected on one of them? Please, if you could let me know, I’d appreciate it.

Thanks for your comment.

I do follow your meaning, and I do like the way Kanazawa’s long, two-story turret (whatever it’s name is) is set out. Of course, Nijo’s Ni-no-maru Palace is just stunning. Getting on the concrete ones (Hiroshima), they may as well house museum-style displays because they don’t seem out of place amongst the concrete pillars & stair cases.

Our opinions of concrete reproductions does differ though (which is of course no issue.) I guess I’m spoilt having seen so many original towers, turrets & gates that when I do see something like the tenshu of Shimabara or Osaka, I almost don’t acknowledge its existence.

That would be the sanjukken-nagaya, I believe.