Nagahama Castle, Japanese water castle in Kōenchō, Japan
Nagahama Castle is a water fortress near Lake Biwa with a three-story concrete tower topped by an observation platform. Inside, the building houses exhibits about the region and its development during the feudal era.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered the original fortress built between 1575 and 1576 as a military stronghold. The fort was dismantled in 1615 and its stones repurposed to construct Hikone Castle.
The castle museum displays extensive collections of Buddhist art, traditional weapons, and historical artifacts documenting the development of Nagahama through different periods.
Visitors reach the castle with a 7-minute walk from Nagahama Station through the town streets. Entry to the museum requires a ticket and the observation deck offers open views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
The surrounding Ho Park contains more than 600 cherry trees that bloom in spring and draw walkers from across the prefecture. The museum displays wooden festival floats from the Hikiyama Festival, which are used for local performances with children as performers.
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