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Hiroshima Castle

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Hotcurrie
Hotcurrie
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3 out of 5
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Hiroshima Castle

  • June 26, 2006
  • Rated 3 of 5 by Hotcurrie from Perth, Australia
Hiroshima Castle

Built in 1589, totally destroyed in the 1945 A-Bomb blast and rebuilt in 1958, as far as having that "History Oozing From The Walls" feeling this is the poor cousin of Japans castles, however Hiroshima Castle still has plenty to offer.

Hiroshima Castle was built by Mori Terumoto in 1589 at the delta of the Otagawa River. He entered the castle in 1591 to govern 9 provinces that today comprise Hiroshima, Shimane, Yamaguchi, and parts of Tottori and Okayama prefectures. Following the abolition of feudal domains and the establishment of prefectures in 1871, the castle gradually came to serve more as a military facility.

During the Edo period Hiroshima Castle occupied an extensive area, over 1km across, and was surrounded by 3 moats in addition to the Otagawa River which formed a natural moat. However, between the Meiji and Showa periods the outer and middle moats were gradually filled in. Most of the original castle grounds are now occupied by office blocks and schools, and the actual castle grounds now measure about 300m across.

What the Castle lacks in age, it more than makes up for with the quality of its displays, which present as much about ancient Hiroshima as it does on the life and times of those who lived in the castle. In this respect it is possibly the best of castles we have visited in Japan.

The Castle has four floors of displays and an observation deck. The floors are laid out as follows;
  • 1st Floor; Ancient Hiroshima, Castle History, Life in the Castle, Castle Defence & the path from fiefs to Prefectures.

  • 2nd Floor; Growth of Hiroshima as a Castle town, the difference between the life of a Samurai versus that of the towns folk, Industry and Transportation of the area, Festivals - their meaning & purpose, Education & Culture.

  • 3rd Floor; displays of weapons and armour, including a range of Swords dating back to the 18th century.

  • 4th Floor; a range of displays depicting Hiroshima's history and culture.

  • 5th Floor; Observation deck.


    • There are a few interesting things to see in the castle grounds as you are making your way to castle itself:

    As you enter through the "Niromaru" (second Compound) and before you cross the bridge you will notice a eucalyptus tree on the left—this tree actually survived the 1945 A-Bomb blast. It is not alone however, there is another as you cross the bridge: a willow like tree on the right, and a third in the centre of the main compound.

    The ruins of Imperial General Headquarters from when the Castle was a Military post in the 1890s, are close to the steps leading up to the castle entrance.

    Stone blocks impressed with the family seal of the person who built the wall can be found with some effort.

    The Hiroshima Castle is a 20 minute walk N.E. from the Peace Museum and at only ¥360 for adults and ¥180 for Kids its worth a visit.

    From journal Sightseeing Japan

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