As promised a while ago, today we are getting a detailed picture gallery from our last visit to Tsurago-jo, the former samurai castle in Aizu-Wakamatsu. In Edo times, this was the ancestral seat of the Matsudaira clan, which controlled and ruled the Aizu region. The Tokugawa shogunate had a strong ally here, which even in the turmoil and battles of the Boshin War stood firmly by the side of the last shogun and tried to withstand the new imperial army of imperial troops. In the end, however, these battles ended victoriously for the overpowering opponent who was equipped with modern European weapons, and the Aizu samurai and their allies had to witness the conquest and subsequent destruction of their castle before being sent into exile themselves.
After the troops of the new imperial army had initially settled on the castle grounds, the castle was rebuilt in the second half of the last century. At the beginning of this millennium, it already underwent a renovation and today it shines in brilliant white and is the landmark of Aizu-Wakamatsu, the largest city of the Aizu region in the west of Fukushima Prefecture.
I have already looked around here a few times, but the last visit was something special, because we had never been here in winter. Just before, it had snowed a lot in this region of Japan and until the last minute we were not sure if we could really make this short trip. Fortunately, the roads to Aizu had been free and when we arrived we had even moments when we could see the sun and some blue sky. But of course there was a lot of snow in and around the city of Aizu-Wakamatsu and that's why we wanted to make a side trip to Tsuruga-jo, which I had only seen in warmer months. And now I was very much looking forward to this imposing castle, to which we are now going to walk together.
So dress warmly, because it's winter and there's snow. And just follow me as I take you on a tour around the castle grounds. There is a lot to see.
We were approaching the castle from the side and our way lead us over this little shiny red bridge, which I of course remembered from former visits. Seeing this bridge from afar you are already feeling more excited about what is coming next.
Standing in front of the bridge, you get the first distant view of the actual castle, which is peeking over the ramparts in the background. That's exactly where we want to go now, but of course we also keep looking to the right and left of the path.
And from the bridge we got this view of the partially frozen inner moat, on whose ice I would still not want to walk. I quickly decided to turn down a refreshing winter bath.
You can also walk along the moat and follow the walls on the other side. I kind of like this particular panorama which I have already enjoyed a couple of times before and which always manages to put a spell on me.
But let us move closer and follow the walls inside. The sky was becoming a bit bluer now, but there were still some big clouds up there blocking out the sun.
But we weren't here to enjoy the weather, the castle ground was offering us so many scenes and pictures that I was soon behind the others who managed to walk much faster. I wanted to look and of course I had to take photos.
And as we got closer and closer, the castle shifted back into our field of vision. It seemed as if now in the winter it wanted to shine and impress even more than usual.
We then went for a stroll on the castle walls, on which in some places you can walk along quite comfortably. From there you can get quite a different view and at the same time you can look inside the complex and also in front of its walls, where the bridge we had just crossed before presented itself from a very different angle.
At same points you can look as far as the mountains outside the city and at times you could easily forget that you are right in the center of the city. Somehow everything outside the castle ground seems to hide and it feels if the backcountry was beginning just at the othe rside of the moat.
Looking into the other direction we are seeing the castle again in the not so far distance, which is somehow blending in perfectly into the winterscape surrounding it.
And finally the castle comes back into the picture and you get a real idea of its size and dimensions. Inside there are several floors which contain some exhibitions and at the top there is a viewing platform from which you should have just the right overview.
Many trees in the complex have been prepared for winter and tied up, so that the expected snow masses do not break off the branches. It's a pretty interesting sight that you see quite often in winter in Japan.
In many parks and gardens you can see similar pictures in these months, because no gardener wants to complain about broken branches or fallen trees in the spring, when all the snow has disappeared again. And for me, this so special Japanese winter style has become so typical for this time of year.
We kept walking on top of the walls to get check out the castle from another place, from where we could also see one some of the inner gates, which due to some construction was closed at this day. On former visits we could pass through and circle the castle completely.
And it is at this point that the playful amateur photographer is offered some interesting photo motifs, which of course he can not refuse in any case.
And that's why everyone had to wait for me while I played around and tried to take some photos. Sure, I prefer looking with my own eyes first, but I just have to capture some of the scenes in front of me for later moments.
When we came down from the walls, I first looked back again. Exactly from up there on the left next to the watchtower I had taken the last pictures. It's nice to be able to remember such details in retrospect.
Here are some of the tied up trees again which presented their charming decorations. Normally the area in the middle is closed off but on this day we were allowed to walk along there as well and some children enjoyed it very much to let off some steam right there and have their fun in the snow.
Now we stop right in front of the castle and look up and luckily the sky had opened up a bit again too. I just like to look at the castle from all sides and angles and I am excited every time again when I stand right in front of it.
The snow on that day was probably just the extra we had hoped for our visit. Thus, the castle Tsuruga-jo could show itself from its wintry side, which was, as expected, extremely charming and impressive. No matter from where I looked at the castle, as always, it was totally convincing.
Even for a cold winter day there were still some people around checking out the castle from the outside and the insde. But as usual I managed to blend them out and make it look as if we were the only ones around on that day. The wonderful castle is just too attractiv to really have it all for yourself.
But then it was time to say goodbye, as the day was nearing its end and we still had a few plans for the coming hours. But of course I still looked closely a few more times and turned around quite often to say goodbye to my castle. Unfortunately, we didn't have quite as much time as I would have liked, but we still managed to do a big round through the castle grounds and to walk a little off the main paths this time as well. That's exactly where you get the right feeling for this great place and it's exactly there that you can grasp and fully understand the history of this complex. Every time our route leads us next to the walls and also along them I would never want to miss these detours into the back corners of the complex.
Now that I have been able to admire Tsuruga-jo in winter, I have grown even more fond of the castle. Aizu-Wakamutsu may not be among the top destinations in Japan, but it does offer some very special, interesting and impressive sights, making this city and its surroundings for us a favorite destination. And we'll definitely be back and we will hopefully explore some new territory, but we'll also take another look around some of the familiar places. I already have some plans in mind.
Today I hope you enjoyed our round and that I was able to bring the atmosphere of this place in the very heart of Japan a little closer to you. There is still a lot to discover here in the Land of the Rising Sun, and of course I still plan to tell you all about it. So please check back soon for new impressions and pictures from this fantastic country.
