Nagano, Matsumoto Castle Japan Walking Tour[4k HDR]

Matsumoto Castle (松本城), originally known as Fukashi Castle, is one of Japan’s premier historic castles, along with Himeji and Kumamoto.
It is located in the city of Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture.
The building is also known as the “Crow Castle” (烏城) due to its black exterior.
It was the seat of Matsumoto Domain under the Edo Period Tokugawa shogunate.

Matsumoto Castle is one of the most complete and beautiful among Japan’s original castles.
It is a “hirajiro” – a castle built on plains rather than on a hill or mountain.
Matsumoto Castle is unique for having both a secondary donjon and a turret adjoined to its main keep. The castle structures, in combination with their characteristic black wainscoting, give off an air of grandeur and poise.

Matsumotojo’s main castle keep and its smaller, second donjon were built from 1592 to 1614. Both these structures were well-fortified as peace was not yet fully achieved at the time. In 1635, when military threats had ceased, a third, barely defended turret and another for moon viewing were added to the castle.

The wooden interior of Matsumoto Castle provides an authentic experience unlike that felt at many other castles rebuilt of ferro-concrete. Interesting features of the castle include steep wooden stairs, openings to drop stones onto invaders, openings for archers, as well as an observation deck at the top floor of the main keep with nice views over the surrounding city.

0:00 – Intro
0:29 – Matsumoto Castle Entrance
1:43 – Main Street
3:39 – Inner Moat
5:45 – Bridge
6:45 – At Night

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