castle hopping

Castle Hopping: Nagoya Castle (July 2026)

The main keep is closed, but Nagoya Castle is still packed with things to see: Ninomaru Garden, stone wall repairs, the giant Kiyomasa Stone, and the masons' mark hunt that stole my heart. A solo lap around the castle, finished off with miso nikomi udon.

2026.07.12

Castle Hopping

Castle Hopping: Nagoya Castle Route Map (July 2026)

A photo route map from the East Gate through Ninomaru Garden, the Honmaru, masons' mark spots, the west-side turrets, Nagoyajo Station, and Yamamotoya Sohonke.

2026.07.12

Castle Walk Route

Castle Hopping: Fukuoka Castle Route Map (June 2026)

A photo route map tracing my second walk around the Fukuoka Castle ruins, from Akasaka Station up through the second bailey and Matsunokizaka to the main bailey and keep base, then back via the third bailey.

2026.06.23

Castle Walk Route

Castle Hopping: Fukuoka Castle (June 2026)

My second visit to the Fukuoka Castle ruins: lotus on the moat, a slower route through Matsunokizaka, and an excavation under way at the keep base to investigate the castle's long-rumored keep.

2026.06.23

Castle Hopping

Castle Hopping: Kumamoto Castle Route Map (June 2026, Day 2)

A photo walk through the route I took on day two at Kumamoto Castle, from lunch at Komurasaki to the live worksite at Iida-maru and a Kumamon cake to finish.

2026.06.15

Castle Walk Route

Castle Hopping: Kumamoto Castle Route Map (June 2026, Day 1)

A companion route map for Castle Hopping: Kumamoto Castle (June 2026, Day 1), following the walk from Kumamoto Airport's tourist card to the castle keep and great ginkgo.

2026.06.14

Castle Walk Route

Castle Hopping: Uwajima Castle Route Map (May 2026)

A photo walk-through of the route I took around Uwajima Castle, from the shopping arcade by the station to the climbing entrance, the Nagatomaru stone walls, the surviving keep, and back down past the Daiuemon-maru and Shikibumaru walls.

2026.05.31

Castle Walk Route

Castle Hopping: Fukuoka Castle Route Map (April 2026)

A companion route map for Castle Hopping: Fukuoka Castle Ruins, following the walk from Ohorikoen Station through the castle ruins and nearby history spots.

2026.04.21

Castle Walk Route

Castle Hopping: Edo Castle Route Map (March 2026)

In through Hirakawa-mon, out through Ote-mon. A solo walking route through Edo Castle (Imperial Palace East Gardens), past the keep base and the Great Pine Corridor site.

2026.03.14

Castle Walk Route

Castle Hopping: Inuyama Castle (March 2026)

A quick side trip from Nagoya turned into a full-on crush. After spotting Inuyama Castle on a TV drama, I went to see Japan's oldest surviving keep, got the jitters on its scary top-floor balcony, collected castle cards and seals, and accidentally fell head over heels for castle hopping.

2026.03.04

Castle Hopping