Hiroshima Castle, Hiroshima

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Originally built in 1590, Hiroshima Castle was home to the daimyo or feudal lord of the Hiroshima fiefdom. The castle, like most of the city, was destroyed by the Atomic Bomb in 1945 but was completely reconstructed in 1958.

When the castle was first built , Hiroshima was not actually an established city, but more small collection of hamlets collectively called Gokamura. After the building of the castle, the daimyo at the time, Mori Terumoto, renamed the township Hiroshima and governed his nine provinces from here. The city began to grow as an important regional centre.

After a battle in 1600, Mori lost control of the region and was forced to flee the castle. Fukushima Masanori became the new daimyo of the provinces and governed from Hiroshima castle. However he fell out of favour with the shogunate for carrying out renovations and additions to the castle and grounds without the express permission of the Edo and was reassigned. Governance of the provinces fell to Asano Nagakira and he and his family remained lords until the end of the feudal system. The castle was later used by the military until it was destroyed by the Atomic Bomb in 1945.

The reconstructions that we see today are only a fraction of what would have originally stood on the site. There would have been many more castle buildings, shrines, outhouses and there was originally three moats. One of the moats has been renovated and the entrance to the castle grounds involves crossing a bridge over the moat and through reconstructed wooden gates.

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Hiroshima Castle is five storeys tall and its grounds are surrounded by a moat. There is a shrine on the grounds and a main gate. The castle was built by Mori Terumoto in 1589. It was spared from the destruction that many other castles met during Meiji Restoration and survived into modern era. However it was destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945. Inside the castle, you can visit a museum on Hiroshima's history. The admission fee is 360 JPY. It is open daily between 9:00 to 18:00.

Unfortunately I don't have any photos on hand, but Hiroshima castle which was reconstructed in 1958 is located rather close to the peace park, about a ten minute stroll at most. If you're at the peace park, it's worth a look.

The Samurai quarters may not be too interesting by themselves as there is not much to see and the descriptions are all in Japanese, but there is a very friendly old man showing tourists around. He will guide you through the long, impressive halls and explain everything to you (he won't be bothered if you tell him you don't understand a word of what he is saying!), but words are not necessary when you watch him acting and showing how the Samurais were killed while being asleep! He will only let you go after you have looked through every single crenel! ;-)

Hiroshima-jo (also called Carp Castle) was originally constructed in 1589. Much of it was dismantled following the Meiji Restoration, leaving only the donjon, main gates and turrets. What remained was totally destroyed by the bomb and rebuilt in ferro-concrete in 1958. Though it is not the original building, it is very impressive and beautiful (especially during cherry blossom season). It contains an interesting museum, admission fee is Y360 and Y180 for children aged 6-17.
The top of the castle provides a good view of the city.

There is a fort around the castle in Hiroshima. Inside the fort is the military grounds which is also converted into a museum. There are a few models of buildings inside, but I didn't know what they were. Everything was written in Japanese inside.

The castle is now a museum that has several different oriental weapons and armor to see. At the top you can make a keychain and have your name or anything you want engraved into it. There is also binocculars that you can use to view the city.

Hiroshima Castle was built in 1589 by the Mori clan. It was completely destroyed by the atomic bomb. The year 1958 marked the completion of today's concrete reconstruction of the castle, which houses a museum.