Five minutes drive to our local train station and my wife and I off to see her old school mate named Baku who is living in Toyama City, about forty minutes away by local train. We are going for “Hanami” drinking Sake under the Cherry Blossoms, which is a not to miss event throughout Japan. We are going at night as it supposed to be especially scenic and there are less people.

We meet up with Baku and agree to go for dinner at a local “Izakaya” Japanese style pub, which is a very casual place to eat and drink. I am about to have my first experience with overly drunk salary man, we enter under the Izakaya’s “Noren” shop curtain and the noise hits us. Packed into this tiny place is about thirty very drunk salarymen and on seeing me a chorus of “karewa oki ne” He i... Read More

Himeji castle is widely known as Japan’s most beautiful castle. Its nickname, “the White Heron Castle”, comes from its majestic form and brilliant white plaster, which I believe is fireproof. The castle (as it looks today) was completed around 1610. It has survived unscathed by war, including the firebombing of the Second World War!

Himeji Castle was the first historical property to be registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As you exit Himeji Station you can see the breathtaking white five-story castle. It commands a predominate view at the center of Himeji. You can have your picture taken with a beautiful Japanese woman dressed up as a princess and a Japanese samurai lord.

The castle has a Seppuku-wing. This is very interes... Read More

In 1602, Kato Yoshiaki began building his castle in the Matsuyama plains (in Ehime prefecture). The five-story castle atop a 132m hill in the center of Matsuyama was completed in 1627. In the 1635, the third Tokugawa Shogun appointed Matsudaira Sadayuki (the first Tokugawa Shogun’s nephew) to Matsuyama Castle. In 1639 Sadayuki reduced the main castle from five-stories down to three stories. The rumour has it that he did this in order to downplay his close connection to Shogun family and to avoid claims of favouritism for having such a grand castle. However, it was probably due to a more practical concern such as the foundation couldn’t support a five-story castle.

In 1784 lightening destroyed the main tower and it was rebuilt many years late... Read More

Staying over the night at my wife’s Aunty and Uncles we were promised a visit to Hikone Castle in the morning before we were driven to Kyoto. The first thing that impressed me on arriving at Hikone Castle Park was the size of the grounds as the perimeter moat stretches for a long distance. After walking for about ten minutes around the moat we came to the access bridge and shortly were at the admission gate.

The ascent to the castle’s plateau was a bit daughnting and I could image how samurai on horseback would have ridden up the meter deep steeps. This caslte does not offer easy access for the elderly and I must say you will find it hard going to get to the top but the effort is well worth it. On arriving on the plateau that the castle sits on I was shocked at fi... Read More

Jumping into the car for a day trip to the next prefecture being Ishikawa we were on the way to Kanazawa, my father in-law Ken had to drop something off to an Antique dealer in kanazawa city he does repairs and valuations for. About ninety minutes drive and we roll into Kanazawa.

Parking the car, we are out front of the antique store and they first thing I locked on to is a katana housed in a locked glass case at the front of the store. Too busy staring at it to pay attention to notice the store owner if I want to hold it Ken tapped me on the shoulder and repeated the offer to me. I didn't have to think about it long and yes spilt over my lips as the stores owner unlocked the case and took the sword off the "... Read More

Arriving in Osaka I had a friend promise to take me to lunch then to Osaka Castle, problem was this was Golden Week. Trying to find somewhere to eat was a joke as line-ups on Golden Week are everywhere so we made the decision to get out of town so to speak and head for Osaka Castle itself.

Off to the station and a short ride later we off the train we were walking towards Osaka Castle when those lovely street vendor stalls offering yakitori, takoyaki, tori no karaage and all the other sumptuous delights came into sight. Ten minutes later and minus 1000 yen, I had satisfaction and the hunger had left.

Walking towards the bridge across the castles moat then up the steep steps I was thinking maybe we should be on horse ... Read More

I decided to visit Kishiwada Castle, which is located at Kishiwada City in Osaka as on my last departure I had shot past it in the train to Kansai airport and had no idea it was even there previously. Probably because my flights always seem to arrive at night that is why I had not noticed it when I arrived in Japan.

So I travel First Hotel, a few stations away from Kishiwada Castle in Izumisano city to stay the night. Up in the morning I grab a train for the three minute ride to Takojizo Station which is the closest to Kishiwada Castle Park.

Off the train at Takojizo Station and I make my way closer and closer to the burgeoning castle, to find I have taken the longest way around the castles moat to get to the en... Read More