Kururi Castle, Japanese castle in Kimitsu, Japan
Kururi Castle is a Japanese fortification in Kimitsu, Chiba Prefecture, located on top of Mount Kururi overlooking the surrounding countryside. The reconstructed main tower rises three floors with white plastered exterior walls and wooden frameworks typical of defensive structures from the Sengoku period.
Takeda Nobunaga founded the fortress in 1456 as a strategic stronghold during the politically fragmented Sengoku era. The fortification served local lords until 1871, when the Meiji government dismantled all feudal structures and demolished the original buildings.
The castle earned the name 'Rain Castle' due to the frequent rainfall and mist that provided natural protection by concealing the structure from potential attackers.
The JR Kururi Line connects to Kururi Station at the base of the mountain, from where local buses or walking paths lead to the castle grounds. The climb up the hill requires some stamina, but the paths are well maintained and offer rest benches along the way.
The small museum inside the tower displays personal belongings of Arai Hakuseki, a scholar and advisor to the shogunate who served here in the 18th century. His writings on economics and governance influenced Tokugawa administration policy in later decades.
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