Inuyama Castle

The weather here lately has been somewhat unpredictable. It snowed yesterday but today was sunny and 58 degrees? Being that it was a nice day, Kim took me to Inuyama Castle. It was a fun little day trip as I have not been out of the city since I've been here. I learned a little more about the train and subway system and found out that there is a train station a couple blocks from my house. I bought a 5000 yen ($60) train pass that allows me to take the train or subway where ever I want. You just put the pass into the machine and it deducts the fair each time you use it. It is a pretty complex system but once you figure out how to match the colors on the schedule to the colors of the train to the colors on the ground, you might get to where you want to go. Good thing I had my tour guide to show me the way.

Inuyama Castle was built in 1537 by one Oda Yojirou Nobuyasu the uncle of Japan's most popular Samurai Oda Nobunaga. It is the oldest standing castle in Japan. It was passed on to many different Lords and was almost completely torn down before it was handed over to the Japanese Government as a "National Treasure" in 1935. In 1965, restoration was completed to its current condition.

Castles were under frequent attack so there are many designs that helped to protect the Lord of the castle. Here, Kim is walking up the first flight of stairs. The stairs are nearly vertical so that invaders could not easily run up and attack. Attackers were forced to hold on to the railing.

Other defense designs were gaps in the floor boards that allowed one to see intruders below. Another Castle purposefully made the floors creek so intruders could be heard coming.

There were armor rooms, secret rooms, and stone rooms where they would drop boulders off the edge and on to intruders scaling the walls.

The entire structure was built using no nails. It is an elaborate craftsmanship of tongue and grove and dove tailing the structure together. It is completely earthquake proof. It even includes its own fire protection system (see picture below).


Other than that, the castle was surrounded by many gorgeous views. The castle sits on top of a mountain so it has a 360 degree view on top. Kim and I took it as a photo opportunity to share with you all. Below I am pointing towards Nagoya.