Kochi Castle
Kochi Castle is a medieval castle located in the city of Kochi. It was built in 1611 and is one of the few castles in Japan that have been preserved in its original form without reconstruction.
History of the castle
At the very beginning of the 17th century, the lands of present-day Kochi Prefecture were allocated to Yamauchi Kazutoye for his faithful service. Yamauchi began building his castle in 1601 and finished in 1611. It was assumed that the building would serve as a family home for the family. Before that, the residences were built away from the fortresses. There are living quarters in the central tower of the Kochi Castle.
In 1727, a large fire broke out on the territory of the Coty castle, many buildings, including the main tower, burned down completely. Two years later, a global recovery effort was launched. The restorers of that time put in a lot of work, they managed to completely restore the fortress in its original form, without introducing any innovations.
During the Second World War, the Kochi Castle, as at the very beginning of its existence, avoided participation in serious hostilities and was preserved better than many other objects. Today, the fortress itself and the surrounding area look almost the same as they did several centuries ago. A magnificent park has been laid out around the castle, the picturesque surroundings have added to its popularity among tourists and the local population.
Castle attractions
Unlike other castles, 14 original buildings have been preserved on the territory of Kochi, which are now accessible to everyone, among them:
- main tower;
- main gate;
- the inner defensive ring.
You can also see a statue dedicated to Yamauchi Kazutoye, a sculptural composition made of bronze, next to the warrior is his faithful horse. The horse figure is the largest equestrian sculpture in all of Japan.
Since Kochi Castle is located on a hill, you can see the city of Kochi from it. Once a year, locals hold a flower festival in the castle, and the area is decorated with bright compositions that are illuminated with lanterns at night. There is also its own museum, where you can see a large number of rare exhibits. Fans of Japanese culture and history will surely like them.
