In 1585, Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered his younger brother Hidenaga to begin construction of Wakayama Castle, which was gradually improved over the years until the Tokugawa family entered the castle in 1619.
After being destroyed by fire in a lightning strike in 1846, the castle was rebuilt four years later, but was destroyed again, this time in an aerial attack in 1945.
The current castle tower is the third one, which was rebuilt in 1958.
The castle tower is one of Japan’s three most famous interconnecting towers, along with Himeji Castle and Matsuyama Castle, and is a rarity in the country.
The standard tour takes about 2 hours.
Stone Walls
Another highlight of the castle is the three main types of masonry that can be seen in the castle.
Ohashi Corridor
There used to be a corridor across the moat, but the foundation stones of the pillars supporting it were found at the bottom of the moat, and the corridor was reconstructed in 2006 based on the remaining drawings and excavations.
There are many other stories to tell if you look at the details.
Please let us share those stories with you and your guide.