I went there almost a year ago but I remember one of the things I liked was those panoramic views of the surrounding area so I could tell where branch castles had been set up on neighboring hills. :) I kind of wanted to go over there, too! Plus the gun museum at Matsumoto is pretty neat.

I have never seen something like this inside the top level of a castle. People leaning on the rails outside, yeah, but never this.

I do wish I’d had more time to explore. It was a hit-and-run type visit. I definitely would like to have checked out any of those branch castles you mention. Perhaps next time.

Yes, the exhibits (plenty of guns) were very interesting. Due to the dim lighting my photos didn’t turn out so well. But hey, it was cool.

It certainly came as a surprise. I probably don’t need to say but there were even more people out of frame.

And, there not being an external landing, the atmosphere there was almost elevator/men’s-room like.

Yep, I’ve had the same experience in Matsumoto. It seems like a pretty popular place most of the year.  Sakasai was the worst so far.  It was like the local hangout for a group of rowdy teens. I waited a good 40 mins or so angling for outside shots without kids fooling around.

Sakasai?? Was not expecting that. So, not only is it hard to reach, but the locals couldn’t be bothered going anywhere? That hardly seems fair. And, 40 mins? You are far more patient than I.

I’ve definitely seen this sort of sight at castles before. Hikone, possibly Kanazawa too; I don’t really remember. But, in general, I do hate the way Japanese visit exhibits or sites when it’s crowded – right up against the glass, in a single file line, giving you no opportunity to go at your own pace, to stop and read or look at something that interests you, or to skip over something that doesn’t. I’m not saying the total everyone-for-themselves chaos of the American way of doing things is ideal, but…

It’s just a shame that you can’t really take in the full experience of the castle in your own way, at your own pace, sometimes, because you’re pushed along by the crowd.

This year I viisted Iga Ueno castle.  I think that the upper most level of that castle looks very similar to the one shown here.  Fortunately I visited during a very rainy day, and because of the weather very few people were there.  I had plenty of time to saunter around and look at everything. I took great pics from outside the windows.

Very interesting comments @toranosukev. There are definitely personal-space issues that have had me worked up here in Japan. On a train, at customs, at Japanese castles…

And I feel as you do, when examining (or skipping) items on display, having paid entry I feel I’ve earnt the right to appreciate the exhibit as I wish and (where allowed) have my turn to take a photo.

Hi Dennis. Welcome, welcome, welcome.

Are there any pics on-line? Would love to see them.

The+1″s appear to only have been added to the main home page and not each post. 

It does appear… eventually. There’s a boring little problem with the loading of javascript. The delay is actually the fix.

There it is.