Tōdō Takatora

Castle Hopping: Imabari Castle

I'd planned on Matsuyama Castle, but Tōdō Takatora lured me to Imabari Castle instead. Fish in a seawater moat, a faithfully reconstructed armory turret, and even Osaka Castle from the plane home.

2026.06.01

Castle Hopping

Castle Walk Route: Imabari Castle

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

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