Postcard from Iwakuni Castle, Yamaguchi Pref., Japan

This concrete "Moji" recreation of the medieval castle originally built here in 1608, was started in 1962. It was a "Yamajiro" or hill-top castle, as opposed to a flat-land "Hirajiro" castle. Kikkawa clan leader Hiroie was responsible for its construction, under the Mori banner. I think!

The oringinal pile only survived for seven years, for some reason incurring the displeasure of the Shogun and being ordered destroyed. Pity - stunning location atop Mount Shiroyama command the view over the Seto Sea & defensively, the Nishiki River curls aound the foot of mountain's steep slopes just right!

Thank god there's a ropeway up he 200m climb these days - only takes a few minutes. The actual climb in mid-summer would have been brutal, let alone 400 years ago trying to build, service or even worse, attack the place.

Kintaikyo Bridge nestles at the foot of the hill, itself a fabulous medieval construction and well worth a visit. The castle itself  boasts the largest dry moat, "Hakabori", around any Japanese Castle. Most of the lower mountaintop defences are overgrown and home to poisonous snakes - no place for sandal-shod visitors! Mostly unbothered by tourists, this is a peaceful spot, and the outlook from the top of the castle well-worth the effort. There are interesting displays of samurai swords, photos of other Japanese castles & detailed explanations of the castle's history & construction. The legend of the place + more photos on Flickr

My tip = if you've got time, a worthy day-trip from Hiroshima, beyond Miyajima (itself, a stunning day out!)...bit more off the beaten track in Japan without being inaccessible. Easily found by local train & bus :)

Postcard from...Gifu Castle

Nagaragawa

I have driven along the Nagara River several times on the way to somewhere in a hurry...and every time regretted not being able to stop and explore Gifu Castle, perched atop Mt. Kinka. It looks amazing from any point of the compass - and truly has a commanding position of the 'fu.

So I'm glad I saved it for a lovely sunny day!

Climbing up there after a business meeting not quite the plan - and certainly not in the right shoes - but well worth the effort. 840m above the riverbed and spectacular views from every corner of the rebuilt (concrete) structure. Last rebuilt in the 1950s - it was last wrecked in 1943 as Gifu was firebombed, but on the site of a mountain-top fortification initiated in 1201. Yet abandoned in 1601 - the year Tycho Brahe died...of course a year after the Battle of Sekigahara.

Gifu Castle - gloriously aloft

Oda Nobunaga basically impressed the pants off everybody in Japan - as well as a Portuguese envoy - with his eyrie, hospitality, and innovations to follow up on his military achievements as the sixteenth century wound to a close...I can't possibly start on the Shogunates/warring states/Christianity in Japan...not enough space on this postcard! But, if you have an interest in that era of history, start here. Rent a car, and trundle around Gifu prefecture - slowly!

Oda Nobunaga - Gifu man

Nuts for Nikko

Despite the main season for visitors being Autumn, I knew that my best chance to explore the area was last week over Obon break. As a typhoon was approaching and was supposed to hit over the week of holiday, my cancelled plans for a hike up Mt. Fuji left my itinerary with a gaping hole. Luckily, just as it is a couple of hours south of Tokyo to visit Fuji, it was also a few hours to make my way up to Nikko - a place that had come highly recommended ever since I arrived in Japan.

A wonder of gold, nature, and sweaty tourists, Nikko is the perfect (relatively) undiscovered spot to beat out anything that is already in Japan’s usual tourism circuit. With shrines dating back to the year 767 and the mausoleum of the first Shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate: Tokugawa Ieyasu, Nikko is dotted with 103 temples and shrines and a history that will leave you speechless. Alongside the abundance of cultural features, Nikko is amassed with nature. Between the waterfalls and mountains, rivers and lakes, it really is a place that has it all - a fact that is continuously vouched for by a long list of names - of which I have now added my name to the bottom of.