Matsumoto Castle
Next to Himeji-jo, Matsumoto-jo is the next best extant castle donjon in Japan. It is also a good example of a so called “hirajiro”, a castle built on the plain rather than on a hill or mountain. Matsumoto-jo is designated a National Treasure. It is Combined towers structure Tenshu which as 29.4m high from ground level. It’s six-stories tall, has three turrets. The two side-turrets connect to the main donjon at several levels. The castle gets a lot of snow, and the sight of the castle covered with snow in winter is truly breathtaking. Matsumoto Station can be reached by train from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo in three hours.
The history of Matsumoto-jo actually begins with a castle called Fukashi-jo which was built by Shimadachi Sadanaga in 1504.Formerly called Fukashi Castle, it was a branch castle of the Ogasawara family during the long period of the warring states. The original fortress was taken by the Takeda clan in 1550, and then by Tokugawa Ieyasu (the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. After Japan’s reunification, Toyotomi Hideyoshi transferred Tokugawa Ieyasu to the Kanto area and awarded the Fukashi Castle to the Ishikawa family, who began construction on the present castle in 1580. This castle in the plains was fully complete in 1614. Japan Matsumoto Castle at present truly belongs to the people of Matsumoto city.
An earthen wall was constructed atop the complete 3.5km length of the ramparts, which were surrounded entirely in front by the moat. Notice the outer walls carefully, and you will discover white plaster over black lacquer. Visitors to the castle must take off their shoes as they climb up the steep wooden stairs. There is an English and Japanese piped commentary and exhibits of firearms, armor and samurai swords.
