Japan (October 2016):
Matsumoto
Matsumoto is
a very pleasant medium-size city surrounded by mountains of the Japanese Alps.
It is home of a magnificent 16th-century castle, Matsumoto-jo, nicknamed ″Crow
Castle″ for its distinctive black walls.
View of
Matsumoto toward the west, from the top of Matsumoto-jo. Several peaks of the
Japanese Alps are visible in the background.
Matsumoto-jo seen from its surrounding park.
Reenactment of the first battle of Matsudaira Naomasa (then aged only 14), displayed in
the castle‛s park. Matsudaira Naomasa was the
7th lord of Matsumoto Clan.
Matsumoto castle seen from the other
side of the moat.
- In the morning.
- In the early afternoon.
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- In the late afternoon.
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Swans and ducks in the moat of the
castle.
Inside the castle: beam carpentry (left),
dark room (center), and samurai armor (right). Beams and pillars are typically
made of hemlock, cypress, and pine; a few of them are over 400 years old. From
the outside the castle seems like it has 5 floors, but inside it has 6. The 3rd
floor, without windows, forms the dark room, which used to be the safest place
during wartime.
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Matsumoto shrine (located one street
north of the castle).
- South entrance.
- West entrance.
- Main building.
- Well in the shrine‛s
courtyard.
Yohashira Shrine (located on the Nawate street).
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Metoba river and old-style houses bordering Nawate street.
Hanko stamps on sale along Nawate street.
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Many wells scattered around Matsumoto
provide fresh spring water. Local people often get their drinking water from
such wells, like in the photo below at Genchi well.
Daimyokoji well.
