EDO CASTLES

Many of Japan's most significant fortresses and palaces played a central role in the Edo period

- 

1 OSAKA CASTLE

OSAKA

Predating the Edo period, Osaka Castle as it originally appeared was first constructed by the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583 and completed in 1598. In 1614 it became the site of the Siege of Osaka as the Toyotomi clan secreted themselves inside and attempted to hold off the attacking forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu. But the summer offensive of 1615 saw Ieyasu victorious and the castle was destroyed. Following the eradication of his enemies, Ieyasu commissioned a new fortress to be built on the site.

In 1665 disaster struck when the tenshu (main tower) was hit by lightning and burnt down. During the Boshin War, Imperialist troops used the site as a garrison and it received further damage. Beginning in the 1930s the castle began to be recognised as an important historic monument and underwent extensive reconstruction. Now a popular tourist attraction, the only recent attack was from Godzilla when the castle was featured in the 1955 film Godzilla Raids Again.

2 EDO CASTLE

CHIYODA, TOKYO

This castle predates Tokugawa Ieyasu's rise as shogun by nearly 200 years. His decision to make the city of Edo the centre of his powerbase saw the castle become integral to the Japanese state. For the rest of their reign the Tokugawa shoguns resided in the castle, ruling over their dominions. It is arguably one of the most historically important castles in all of Japan.