Okayama Castle, Japanese castle in Marunouchi, Japan
Okayama Castle is a reinforced concrete fortress in the Marunouchi neighborhood, rebuilt in 1966 after wartime destruction. The main keep rises six stories and displays the signature black lacquer finish that imitated the timber exterior of the original structure.
Lord Ukita Hideie completed the fortress in 1597, but after his defeat in 1600, the Kobayakawa and later the Ikeda family took control. American air raids destroyed most of the complex in 1945, leaving only the Tsukimi Tower from 1620 standing.
Local residents call the building
An elevator runs through all six floors to the top observation level, which opens views over the neighboring Korakuen Garden. Interior rooms display armor and weapons from the samurai era, with each floor dedicated to a different theme.
The Tsukimi Tower takes its name from the tradition of gathering there during the full moon to view the lunar disk. This small structure with its timber beams and curved roofs shows the building style that once defined the entire complex before the modern reconstruction.
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