Main towers
Original Main Towers
(現存天守 - Genzon Tenshu)
Though Japanese castles & forts once numbered in their thousands, only twelve have survived to the present day. War may have caused many to be reduced to rubble but this hasn't been their only threat. Disasters, both natural & man-made, have plagued these masterful constructions and sent them crashing to the ground in spectacular fashion. Much more ignominiously, a great many castles were simply sold off as scrap or just torn down.
(see all original castles)
(see all original castles)
Interiors of Original Main Towers
Every surviving castle has undergone a major renovation during the modern era so it is no surprise that their interiors are well presented. Some alterations that may have taken place are: extra hand rails for the (very steep) stairs, lighting & historical displays. One thing that is evident in these old towers is wear. You can see the effect that thousands of feet over the steps or countless hands grasping at the rails has had. Also, the darkness of the wood where people haven't touched.
Reconstructed Main Towers
(再建天守 - Saiken Tenshu)
In the 1900's, and indeed continuing into the 2000's, a great number of main towers have been rebuilt. Largely, these have been concrete reconstructions that, externally at least, have remained faithful to their original designs. In a handful of cases, towers have been built irrespective of how the original main tower may have looked. And at the other end of the scale though, there have been wooden reconstructions that are more or less faithful representations.
(see all reconstructed castles)
(see all reconstructed castles)
Tower styles (天守 - Tenshu)
You could be forgiven for thinking that all Japanese castles are basically the same. Of course, aside from the obvious external differences such as their overall size or that some are black while others seem to radiate with their white plastered walls. But, as with all things, a little investigation can highlight the subtle differences.
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Bōrōgata - 望楼型This is the watchtower style keep. It looks like a regular multi-storied building but with what looks like a mini-tower emerging through its roof. Kōchi & Matsue castles |
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Sōtōgata - 層塔型This design is quite straight-forward. Simply, each layer of the tower is smaller that the layer below it. Shimabara & Nagoya castles |
Tower footprint
Tenshu can be also defined by how they relate to attached structures, if any. Do they stand alone or are they part of a complex of adjoined turrets?
Dokuritsushiki - 独立式  |
Fukugoshiki - 複合式  |
Renketsushiki - 連結式  |
Renritsushiki - 連立式  |
| Maruoka & Uwajima castles | Kumamoto & Inuyama castles | Nagoya & Matsumoto castles | Himeji & Matsuyama castles |
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Popular
| 1 | Himeji Castle |
| 2 | Kumamoto Castle |
| 3 | Matsue Castle |
| 4 | Nijō Castle |
| 5 | Matsumoto Castle |
| 6 | Kanazawa Castle |
| 7 | Hikone Castle |
| 8 | Maruoka Castle |
| 9 | Inuyama Castle |
| 10 | Hirosaki Castle |