The whole complex is surrounded by defensive walls and a double moat. The complex is composed of a maze-like arrangement of fortified buildings, walls, and gates, with a six-storey tower keep at its centre. Himeji Castle, located in the town of Himeji in the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan, was built on a natural hilltop between 15 CE. The castle is the largest and best-preserved samurai fortification in the country. Built as a samurai fortress in 1581-1609 CE / Photo by André Doiron, Flickr, Creative Commons The author of numerous articles on World War II and an accomplished photographer, his interest in Japanese castles began while he was teaching at a Japanese senior high school.Himeji Castle, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Her fascination with castles began when living on the West coast of Japan and her research has been primarily focused on the influence of Japanese architecture on Western architecture.ĭavid Green is a graduate in applied science with Master's degrees in business administration and military history.

Jennifer Mitchelhill received a PhD in Architectural History from the University of Melbourne. With over two hundred color images, numerous diagrams, maps, and detailed descriptions, Samurai Castles is the most comprehensive Japanese history book on this intriguing topic. Chronicling the story of each building conveys a greater understanding of how and why they were built, and identifies their unique features for historians, architecture aficionados, world travelers, and Japanophiles alike. In this fascinating Japanese castle book, you will discover the rich history and creators of famous castles such as Himeji, Osaka, and Nijo that you would otherwise need to travel to Japan to experience in person. Understanding the cultural contexts of these Samurai castles helps create a better understanding of Japanese culture today. These monumental structures fulfilled a need for protection without sacrificing aesthetic values. The enormous stone walls, multi-level towers, and sophisticated defense systems are not merely impressive fortresses, but spectacular works of Japanese architecture, constructed without the use of steel or modern equipment. Discover the secrets of Japan's feudal past by exploring the most famous castles of the Samurai era. Japan's ancient castles provide profound insights into the country's compelling military history. Samurai Castles features hundreds of stunning color photographs and little-known details about the most important and well-preserved Samurai castles in Japan, including their history, design and military features.

Japanese castle design