One of the important sites in Kyoto is Nijo Castle and I tried to visit it yesterday afternoon at 4 pm only to be told it was just closed, but would re-open at 7 pm. Well, that's when it gets dark around here, but I and my colleague, Michael decided to give it a try.
The castle might be described as a flat-land one and, unlike all others we have seen in this country, doesn't perch up an a hill-side. It has a double moat, but surely that wouldn't be much of a defence! However, it was home to perhaps Japan's most powerful shogunate (Tokugawa) and perhaps that was enough too deter any would-be attackers. And indeed it is more palace than castle. And it was crucially important in Japanese history because here, in 1867, the shogunate decided to return power to the emperor Meiji (the Meiji Restoration) and modern Japan cam into being, rather than remain a feudal state.
The castle isn't very old by many European standards, bring built in 1626. I can only provide very limited photos because at dusk the lighting was insufficient to show much. Indeed, quite a portion was closed off to visitors, which was annoying. However, entrance was free at that time of night so we didn't complain. And we ate a very good mango sorbet sold to us by a Russian sales assistant from of all places St Petersburg, Just how she wound up in her job I don't know.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
AS
The castle might be described as a flat-land one and, unlike all others we have seen in this country, doesn't perch up an a hill-side. It has a double moat, but surely that wouldn't be much of a defence! However, it was home to perhaps Japan's most powerful shogunate (Tokugawa) and perhaps that was enough too deter any would-be attackers. And indeed it is more palace than castle. And it was crucially important in Japanese history because here, in 1867, the shogunate decided to return power to the emperor Meiji (the Meiji Restoration) and modern Japan cam into being, rather than remain a feudal state.
The castle isn't very old by many European standards, bring built in 1626. I can only provide very limited photos because at dusk the lighting was insufficient to show much. Indeed, quite a portion was closed off to visitors, which was annoying. However, entrance was free at that time of night so we didn't complain. And we ate a very good mango sorbet sold to us by a Russian sales assistant from of all places St Petersburg, Just how she wound up in her job I don't know.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
AS
No comments:
Post a Comment