Kochi Castle 高知城

Description

Kochi Castle is unique among castles in Japan: it is the only one where the buildings of the main keep and the innermost courtyard survive almost intact. Among these, the lord’s residence is a particular treasure as one of only two still existing in Japan. Kochi Castle was first built by the military commander Yamauchi Kazutoyo (1545 - 1605), who had been granted the domain of Tosa (present-day Kochi Prefecture) in return for his services at the Battle of Sekigahara. Nearly all the buildings were lost in a great fire in 1727, but they were reconstructed in their original form by 1753. Visitors will be impressed by elements both aesthetic and military. The uppermost floor of the main keep, for example, is encircled by an elegant balustraded veranda, while the outer walls of the first floor are ringed by sharp metal spikes to repel any enemy soldiers who might try to clamber up the stone walls and sneak in; indeed, Kochi is the only castle in Japan where this daunting feature still exists. Openings in the walls were used for different weapons depending on their shape: circles and triangles were for firing guns at the enemy, rectangles were for shooting arrows. The castle grounds are a popular spot for picnicking during cherry blossom season, while nearby museums include the Kochi Castle Museum of History and the Kochi Literary Museum. The Sunday Market, held every week on the street leading to the main gate, is a lively place to shop for local crafts, antiques, and produce.