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TOP ＞ Castle Study Guide ＞ Castle sites in Hyogo Prefecture　Ako Castle (Ako City)

Castle sites in Hyogo Prefecture

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Castle sites in Hyogo Prefecture
Ako Castle (Ako City)
Ako Castle (Ako City)
Ako Castle

A flatland castle built by Asano Naganao, with construction beginning in 1648, this was the site of the Ako Incident, immortalized in the story Chushingura (The Forty-seven Ronin). Kondo Masazumi, a scholar of military science of the Koshu school, was in charge of the castle layout, evidently with some advice from Yamaga Soko, and it has an unusual footprint with an outline full of obtuse angles. Inside the Honmaru (main compound) is the Tenshudai (foundation of main castle keep) and the lord’s residence, and recent excavation and restoration work has recreated the castle garden.

Ako Castle Sannomaru (third compound) Ote sumi yagura (corner turrets) Inside the Sannomaru (third compound) / Nagaya-mon Gate of the Oishi residence Excavated and restored Honmaru (main compound) Garden (part 1) Excavated and restored Honmaru (main compound) Garden (part 2) Excavated and restored Honmaru (main compound) Garden (part 3) Excavated and restored Honmaru (main compound) Garden (part 4) Stone wall of Honmaru (main compound) (part 1) Stone wall of Honmaru (main compound) (part 2) The recreated Honmaru (main compound) Otemon Gate (part 1) The recreated Honmaru (main compound) Otemon Gate (part 2) Tenshudai (foundation of main castle keep) in Honmaru The restored Honmaru (main compound) Umayaguchi-mon Gate Umayaguchi-mon Gate (outside) The restored Honmaru (main compound) Hanebashi-mon Gate Hanebashi-mon Gate (outside) Mizunote-mon Gate in the southern part of the Ninomaru / Curved stone wall on the left Machiya townhouse in the castle town (part 1) Machiya townhouse in the castle town (part 2)

【Ako Castle】

Ako Castle
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【Sannomaru (third compound) Ote sumi yagura (corner turrets)】

Sannomaru (third compound) Ote sumi yagura (corner turrets)
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【Inside the Sannomaru (third compound) / Nagaya-mon Gate of the Oishi residence】

Inside the Sannomaru (third compound) / Nagaya-mon Gate of the Oishi residence
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【Excavated and restored Honmaru (main compound) Garden (part 1)】

Excavated and restored Honmaru (main compound) Garden (part 1)
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【Excavated and restored Honmaru (main compound) Garden (part 2)】

Excavated and restored Honmaru (main compound) Garden (part 2)

The water of this pond also came from water pipe leading to the north of the castle.

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【Excavated and restored Honmaru (main compound) Garden (part 3)】

Excavated and restored Honmaru (main compound) Garden (part 3)

Culvert masonry.

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【Excavated and restored Honmaru (main compound) Garden (part 4)】

Excavated and restored Honmaru (main compound) Garden (part 4)

Pond in tsubo-niwa (small garden).

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【Stone wall of Honmaru (main compound) (part 1)】

Stone wall of Honmaru (main compound) (part 1)

The walls have obtuse-angled corners.

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【Stone wall of Honmaru (main compound) (part 2)】

Stone wall of Honmaru (main compound) (part 2)

An unusual curve describing an external arc.

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【The recreated Honmaru (main compound) Otemon Gate (part 1)】

The recreated Honmaru (main compound) Otemon Gate (part 1)
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【The recreated Honmaru (main compound) Otemon Gate (part 2)】

The recreated Honmaru (main compound) Otemon Gate (part 2)
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【Tenshudai (foundation of main castle keep) in Honmaru】

Tenshudai (foundation of main castle keep) in Honmaru

Only visible from inside the Honmaru.

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【The restored Honmaru (main compound) Umayaguchi-mon Gate】

The restored Honmaru (main compound) Umayaguchi-mon Gate
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【Umayaguchi-mon Gate (outside)】

Umayaguchi-mon Gate (outside)
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【The restored Honmaru (main compound) Hanebashi-mon Gate】

The restored Honmaru (main compound) Hanebashi-mon Gate

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【Hanebashi-mon Gate (outside)】

Hanebashi-mon Gate (outside)
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【Mizunote-mon Gate in the southern part of the Ninomaru / Curved stone wall on the left 】

Mizunote-mon Gate in the southern part of the Ninomaru / Curved stone wall on the left
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【Machiya townhouse in the castle town (part 1)】

Machiya townhouse in the castle town (part 1)
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【Machiya townhouse in the castle town (part 2)】

Machiya townhouse in the castle town (part 2)

The vertical lattice decorations on the upper section are splendid.