Tag Archives: Japanese Castles

Field Report: Cherry blossoms and castle ruins in Fukuoka, Japan (28 March 2015)

Every spring, the ruined enceintes of Fukuoka Castle take on a special blush of beauty, with the bare branches of its flowering cherry trees stirring magnificently into life.

Field Report: Kokura Castle, Kitakyūshū, Japan (27 March 2015)

It’s a fact that needs no repeating, but I’ll repeat it anyway: I love Japanese castles. And with a tiny sliver of sunlight still left after my day trip to Kumamoto, I seized upon the chance to add another one to my “been there” list.

Field Report: Kumamoto Castle, Japan (27 March 2015)

Traditional stroll gardens, such as the splendid specimen we visited in the previous post, are all well and good for reinforcing your typical Edo-period daimyō‘s reputation as a man of refined taste. However, where visual manifestations of a Japanese warlord’s wealth and power are concerned, one would be hard pressed to find anything more capableContinue reading “Field Report: Kumamoto Castle, Japan (27 March 2015)”

Field Report: Saga Castle, Japan (25 March 2015)

Saga Prefecture doesn’t usually rank first in tourist itineraries (except for those chasing traditional Japanese porcelain), but rich cultural and historic rewards await those willing to invest a brief stop in this quiet corner of northern Kyūshū. After seeing one major attraction earlier in the day which represented Japan’s early, formative years, I travelled aContinue reading “Field Report: Saga Castle, Japan (25 March 2015)”

Field Report: Yoshinogari Historical Park, Japan (25 March 2015)

Diego sets off on a journey to discover a very different, very ancient Japan – a land and society far removed from (and far older than) the samurai and shōgun that have long dominated popular conceptions of Japanese history. The destination: a complete, and quite enormous, Iron Age town resurrected from bare earth and ashes,Continue reading “Field Report: Yoshinogari Historical Park, Japan (25 March 2015)”

Field Report: Fukuoka Castle and Kōrokan, Fukuoka, Japan (23 March 2015)

Fukuoka might not be as well known for historical attractions as some other Japanese cities (like Kyōto), but it’s got a few treasures of its own – including the remnants of an Edo-period castle.

Field Report: Kyōto, Japan (23 November 2014)

Our itinerary for the 23rd of November was light, open, and relaxed – it was Sunday, after all. A hearty breakfast to start, followed by mid-morning Mass at a Catholic church in downtown Ōsaka, and then a quick day trip to see the gilded precincts of what may well be the grandest house in allContinue reading “Field Report: Kyōto, Japan (23 November 2014)”