Hirosaki Castle

Hirosaki, Japan, Japan

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Hirosaki Castle is a historic feudal castle in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, in northern Japan, and it is notable as the only remaining castle in the Tohoku region with an original Edo-period main keep still standing.

The castle was initially planned by Tsugaru Tamenobu after he gained control of the area, but construction only began in 1610 under his son Nobuhira, and the main complex was completed in just one year by reusing materials from other castles. Its original five-story keep was destroyed by lightning in 1627, and due to Tokugawa shogunate restrictions on rebuilding large castle towers, the site remained without a keep for nearly two centuries.

In 1810, the local lord was finally allowed to build a three-story tower, which was cleverly designed as a watchtower and storehouse rather than a residence to avoid government sanctions, and it was built with forced perspective to appear larger than its modest size.