Kushima Castle, Japanese castle in Omura, Japan
Kushima Castle is a fortress situated on a peninsula extending into Omura Bay, featuring three baileys enclosed by stone walls and seawater-filled moats. The defensive layout demonstrates how the position in the bay was central to its design.
Construction began in 1598 under Lord Yoshiaki Omura and was completed the following year as a coastal defensive stronghold. The rapid construction reflected the military urgency of securing the maritime region.
The castle grounds now serve as Omura Park, where local cherry trees and iris flowers draw visitors during blooming seasons. The transition from fortress to garden reflects how the place has become woven into the rhythm of local life.
The original stone walls surrounding the outer area can be explored on foot, with the three gate locations marking key entry points along the perimeter. Visiting during flower blooming seasons offers the best experience of both the fortress structure and the park grounds.
The fortress features unusually designed moats on its northern side that exploited tidal conditions to hinder enemy movements during low tide. This defensive strategy shows how builders adapted the design to the natural rhythms of the bay.
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