Castles Archives | Kansai Odyssey

In the center of Aichi Prefecture is the old city, Okazaki. Known as the birthplace of Hatcho Miso, Okazaki is

Bitchu Matsuyama Castle: Japan’s Only Surviving Mountain Castle

Japan’s very first castles were mountain castles or yamajiro. Unfortunately, many of them do not exist anymore, due to the

Mt. Iimori is a popular destination for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, yet there is more to this mountain than just

For many, many years the southern area of what is today Shiga prefecture was politically important for many warlords. Its

While there are many castles in Japan, only 5 of them are national treasures. In Kansai, Himeji Castle is of

Along with Horyu-ji Temple in Nara, Himeji Castle [姫路城] was one of the first Japanese World Heritage sites. Though this

When it comes to the most popular tourist spot in Kyoto, Nijo Castle usually gets somewhere near the top of