Château d'Otomo, Japanese castle in Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Château d'Otomo is a Japanese castle in Chiba Prefecture featuring multiple concentric defense rings arranged in layers. The structure combines stone foundations with wooden buildings built above them in medieval Japanese style.
The castle was built during the Sengoku period in the 15th century as an administrative seat and military headquarters for regional control. It reflects how local territorial rulers organized their power through fortified bases.
The castle displays traditional Japanese building methods combining stone bases with wooden structures typical of medieval fortifications. Visitors can observe how these materials worked together in the original defensive design.
The grounds are open year-round with informational signs explaining the different structural elements throughout the site. Wear sturdy footwear as the terrain is uneven with slopes and raised earthworks.
The site uses the natural slope of the landscape as a built-in defense feature, making the constructed fortifications more effective. This placement demonstrates how Japanese castle builders understood and worked with the land itself.
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