stone walls

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 (June 2026, Day 2)

Numbered stones awaiting their turn, a crane finally in motion, the aerial privy, old photos laid over the now, and signing up as a reconstruction castle lord.

2026.06.15

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 (June 2026, Day 1)

A castle keep brought back to life, and stone walls still lying in ruins. A solo day at Kumamoto Castle as it is right now, mid-recovery.

2026.06.14

Castle Hopping

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: Imabari Castle Route Map (June 2026)

A companion piece tracing, in photos, the exact route I walked at Imabari Castle, from the Kurogane-gomon to the main bailey, the Bugu-yagura, and a full loop around the seawater moat.

2026.06.01

Castle Walk Route

Castle Hopping: Uwajima Castle (May 2026)

One of Japan's 12 surviving original keeps, and the first castle Tōdō Takatora built for himself. Battling 31°C heat with sour dried plums, I marveled at the castle's oldest stone walls and its compact keep.

2026.05.31

Castle Hopping