Matsuho Battery Site, Historical coastal battery in Awaji, Japan
Matsuho Battery Site is a coastal fortification on Awaji strategically positioned between the island and Honshu across the Akashi Strait. The ruins include 13 cannon positions, a gunpowder magazine, training grounds, and represent 19th-century Japanese military fortification systems.
Constructed in 1861 under Tokushima Domain supervision, this fortification aimed to protect Japanese waters from foreign vessels during the Bakumatsu period. This era was marked by increasing foreign pressure on Japan and the nation's desire to defend its borders.
The site demonstrates traditional Japanese construction methods from the late Edo period through its distinctive M-shaped layout for coastal defense. This design reflects how people at that time thought about protecting their waters from foreign ships.
The ruins require sturdy footwear and good balance as the ground can be uneven and some areas are rocky. It helps to learn beforehand where different parts of the site are located to plan your exploration effectively.
The site contains a specialized parallelogram-shaped harbor about 43 meters long, built to house a ram-equipped vessel for additional maritime defense. This extra defensive element shows the innovative solutions developed at that time to protect the coast.
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