HIKONE CASTLE
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The castle, which dominates the city, is located on a hill west of the station. It is one of the most beautiful castles in Japan. Magnificently preserved, it gives us the opportunity to imagine what the fortresses of medieval Japan looked like. Surrounded by a moat, now converted into a park, the castle was the residence of the II family. After the victory of Sekigahara, Naomasa II attacked the castle of Minowa, located not far from the city. His son, Naokatsu II, refused to attack the castle of Ōsaka and shōgun Hidetada Tokugawa handed over Hikone Castle to his brother, Naotaka II, who completed the construction in 1622. But according to legend, the keep was originally part of Otsu Castle before it was moved to Hikone. The three-tiered main tower is an architectural achievement. Although the height of the castle is not impressive (21 meters), one particularly appreciates the human-sized side of the building, which adds to the charm of the place. This keep was classified as a national treasure in 1952. This distinction is moreover rare. Only the dungeons of Hikone, Himeji, Matsumoto and Inuyama have received it. The interior of the castle contains architectural aspects that allow a better understanding of the construction and operation of such a structure. Note the crenellated walls for the firearms, the secret rooms or the decorative gables of the roof. The surroundings of the castle are also conducive to walking, the layout having been tastefully designed without distorting the landscape.
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