Shaonto Tower, Kofu Castle, Granite obelisk in Maizuru Castle Park, Japan.
Shaonto Tower at Kofu Castle is a granite obelisk rising from the former castle grounds with geometric precision and sharp angular lines. The stone displays clean edges and straight surfaces that define the monument's overall form.
The monument was designed in 1920 by architects Itō Chūta and Shintarō Ōe to honor warriors linked to Kofu Castle. This creation came during a period when Japan documented and honored its military traditions.
The tower blends traditional Japanese memorial forms with early 20th-century building methods that were new at the time. Its structure shows how architects of that era combined inherited design principles with modern techniques.
The monument sits within the park on the former castle grounds and is easily reached on foot. From the station it takes about 10 minutes to walk north through the park to reach it.
The exact location of this monument marks the place where samurai warriors gathered during the castle's military operations. This spot was deliberately chosen for the tower's construction.
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