A testament to Nagoya's violent weather changes, we were devastated to see black storm clouds on the horizon a few minutes after the train's departure--and even more devastated after they moved overhead, pelting the train and environs with heavy rain... When we arrived in Inuyama we had to run straight to Circle K and buy umbrellas, but miraculously, although we entered the Castle in the rain, by the time we arrived at the top floor of the tower, the storm had passed, and the whole river valley below glistened and sparkled as the sunlight reflected off the rain-soaked trees and grass and rooftops... Like a gift from the gods.
Above is a photo of the streets just south of the Castle--many of the buildings and homes are "preserved" from a hundred or more years ago... The whole area really had the feel of old Japan--and because of the rain everything was more or less deserted as well.
Here's a picture I took of Bradley--I think he's perfectly adorable in the cap and sweater... (If you haven't yet guessed--guest blogger Genevra here!)
An overview shot of the castle tower. Built in the 1500's, this is the oldest of only four castles in Japan that remain completely preserved and unreconstructed. Unlike Nagoya Castle, where tourist-friendly steps now replace the original interior design, we had to climb Nagoya Castle--barefoot--on incredibly steep old wooden staircases... On the first level there was some cool old armour and katana (swords) but for the most part it was just the castle interior itself--exactly as it was 500 years ago...
Here is Bradley and a sweet English-speaking tour guide explaining the "trap stone door" on which she and Brad are standing... The floor lifts up and during sieges the samurai would drop huge stone blocks down onto the heads of enemy soldiers below... Somehow this trap door also doubled as an escape route for the Castle's lord in times of danger.
A view from one of the castle look-out towers--the castle grounds are below.
Here is the Kiso River--which divides Aichi from Gifu Prefecture--and the beautiful Japanese hills beyond...
Here way in the distance on the top of the far hill, one can just barely make out Gifu Castle--the base of Inuyama's arch-enemies back in their heyday.
And from this side one can see all the way to urban Nagoya in the far distance...
Me and Bradley....
This is another "sacred" tree beside the Castle--but with a very unusual story. Some hundred or more years ago a terrifying lightning storm hit Inuyama and a particular fearsome bolt headed straight for the Castle. This tree--in legend inhabited by a powerful protector-spirit of the Castle--intervened and sacrificed its own life to save the castle. Subsequently a beautiful trumpet vine covered its dead trunk and the grateful lord of the Castle had a shelter built over the tree (a zelkova elm)...
A lost shot of the Castle's very pretty outer moat...
