Castle as seen from the Uzumibashi bridge

Matsumoto Castle is one of Japan's premier historic castles, along with Himeji Castle and Kumamoto Castle.
The building is also known as the "Crow Castle" （烏城）. It was the seat of the Matsumoto domain.
It is located in the city of Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture and is within easy reach of Tokyo by road or railway.
The keep (Tenshukaku), which was completed in the late sixteenth century, maintains its original wooden interiors
and external stonework. It is listed as a National Treasure of Japan. Matsumoto Castle is a flatland castle (平城)
because it is not built on a hilltop or amid rivers, but on a plain.　Its complete defences would have included
an extensive system of inter-connecting walls, moats, and gatehouses.


松本城は、姫路城や熊本城と並んで、日本有数の歴史的城郭の一つです。 この城は「烏城」としても知られ、かつて
松本藩の居城でした。 松本城は安土桃山時代末期-江戸時代初期に建造された。松本城と呼ばれる以前は深志城と
言われていた。 16世紀後半に完成した天守閣は、当時の木造内部と石造外部を今も残し、国宝に指定されています。
松本城は平城です。 丘の上や川の中ではなく、平野に築かれているためです。 その完全な防御には、相互に連結された
城壁、堀、門楼からなる広範なシステムが含まれていたと考えられています。
「烏城」うじょう：黒漆塗りや黒い木材（下見板）で外観が覆われている岡山城、松本城など日本の城を指す。


(L) Taikomon 太鼓門　(R) Kuromon (Black Gate )　黒門

A swan swimming in a moat　お堀を泳ぐ白鳥

Matsumoto Castle is a flatland castle, surrounded by a moat.　松本城は堀に囲まれた平城

(L) A weeping cherry tree and castle tower しだれ桜と天守閣
(R) An era-actor in front of the Matsumoto Castle, that is often seen in the oversea historical places.
海外の史跡でもよく見かける時代芸人：松本城石垣前

Inside of Matsumoto Castle
The narrow stairway up to the castle tower (Tenshukaku) is very steep and dangerous to the elderly.
松本城内部 天守閣へ続く狭い階段は非常に急で、高齢者には危険

(L) A ceiling assembly of the Tnshukaku, Castle Tower　 天守閣の天井部分
(R) The second floor of the main keep features a gun museum, Teppo Gura, with a collection of guns, armor, and other weapons
天守閣2階には、鉄砲、甲冑、その他の武器のコレクションを展示する鉄砲博物館「鉄砲蔵」


Matsumoto Castle


Premier historic castles, along with Himeji Castle and Kumamoto Castle ：　
It was lucky we could observe Matsumoto Castle just during the cherry blossom season. It is not built on
a hilltop or amid rivers, but on a plain.　AS other Japanese castle, the narrow stairway up to the castle tower
(Tenshukaku) is very steep, and particularly at Matsumoto Castle, it is dangerous to the elderly person.

姫路城や熊本城と並ぶ、日本屈指の歴史的城郭：桜の季節に松本城を拝観できたのは幸運でした。松本城は丘の上や
川の中ではなく、平野に建てられています。他の日本の城と同様に、天守閣への狭い階段は非常に急で、特に
松本城は高齢者にとって危険を伴う。


Nagoya Castle


松本城
2018年4月執筆および写真撮影 医学博士　宮本順伯
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This information was provided by the Smokefree Hotel and Travel.
The article was written and photographs were taken in April 2018, by Junhaku Miyamoto, M.D., PhD.
Copyright (C) 2018 Junhaku Miyamoto, PhD. All right is reserved.

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