Wakayama castle is1 hour train ride from the Kansai Airport. 10 minutes walk from Wakayamashi station and you can see a massive medieval Japanese castle from the highway 26. Wakayama locates south of Osaka and Kyoto. The weather is much warmer than Osaka and mikan (mandarine orange) is the special product of this district for more than 400 years. Autumn to winter is the time for mikan if you have a chance to visit, you should try one. Also, autumn leaves are beautiful in the garden of Wakayama castle.
Ishigaki- Stone Wall Is One to Look at Wakayama Castle
In Japanese casltes, ishigaki (stone wall or base) structures tell the history of the castle. In Wakayama castle there is unusual shaped ishigaki. Close to the centre of the castle, you can see ishigaki which were built about 400 years ago. Stones were brought in from near the castle and the structure style is “Nozura” (stacking natural stones as they are). The castle was expanded in later years, so in the outer parts of the castle, you can see “Uchikomi-Hagi” (stacking shaped stones and putting in small stones in the empty spaces.) Wakayama castle shows the early stage of ishigaki in Japanese history.
Most of the Buildings were Burned Down in WWII
The main tower (donjon) and most of the buildings were burnt in the air raid in the second World War. However, Oimawashimon and Okaguchimon gates survived.
The Sloping Covered Bridge is Difficult to Walk
Ohashiroka or a sloping and covered bridge used to join two buildings in the castle. This bridge is unusually sloped, so the floor has bumpy edges. It is painful and clumsy to walk.
Ishigaki Fossils
The stones were brought from the Ocean, so there are several fossils in Wakayama castle. One is by the Ohashiroka and one is in Sunanomaru Park. You should try to find fossil stones there.
November is the time for Autumn Leaves
Nishinomaru Park is perfect for autumn scenery and the best season is approaching. This park will be illuminated from November to early December.
Summary of Wakayama Castle
Wakayama castle is an interesting castle. For example Ishigaki displays the transformation of civil engineering old time Japan. Other famous castles such as Kumamoto castle and Himeji castle have much more complex ishigaki and their older ishigaki have been restored or merged into newer ishigaki, so it is not easy to see the complete shapes of old ishigaki. Most parts of large and important castles’ Ishigaki are usually completely restored, but in Wakayama castle shows a restoration around a preserved older centre. Thanks to that we can still see 400 year old Ishigaki.