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The "black crow" castle
If your kids are fascinated by Japan’s illustrious past of lordly samurai and black-clad ninjas, a visit to Matsumoto’s “Black Crow” castle is an excellent way to bring history to life. This is one of Japan’s best-preserved original castles, and gives a great insight into the elaborate systems of defence devised by Japan’s feudal warlords.
Known as the "black crow" thanks to its dark wood, Matsumoto Castle is six storeys high and unusual for having a secondary donjon and turret attached to the main keep. It is possible to climb up inside the castle building via a series of very steep staircases. Do watch your head; as the samurai coats of armour inside the castle attest, people were a lot smaller when the castle was built in the late 16th century!
The castle is a hirajiro which means it was built on a plain rather than on top of a mountain and today the castle sits in the centre of Matsumoto City. There is a pretty vermillion bridge in the castle grounds, and in spring it is a popular cherry blossom spot.
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