Our 275th entry in this blog is our visit to Hiroshima Castle 🙂

Hiroshima Castle, sometimes called Carp Castle, is a castle in Hiroshima, Japan that was the residence of the daimyō (feudal lord) of the Hiroshima Domain.

Before we get in to the castle grounds, we were happy to see different plants, flowers, and fishes by the pond. Sai took a picture of the dragon designed flower area. 🙂

The castle was originally constructed in the 1590s, but was largely destroyed by the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945. The main keep was rebuilt in 1958, a replica of the original that now serves as a museum of Hiroshima’s history before World War II, and other castle buildings have been reconstructed since.

The style of the outside structure of the new castle stays close to the original, but the inside employs contemporary techniques. The keep at the top has a balcony running outside, offering panoramic views of the city and surrounding area.

Photo above (upper right) is Hiroshima Castle’s mascot. It’s a cat who wears the castle as a hat. Very cute! 🙂

The original castle did not survive the bombing, but three trees did. Inside the castle walls you can find a holly, eucalyptus, and willow tree, which were only between 740 and 910 meters from the center of the blast. These iconic trees are now symbols of the city’s strength and ability to survive and flourish even after a truly devastating event.

This castle has lots of stairs inside. I always rest after climbing only 1 floor. hehe 🙂

The castle, which was built in a very strategic position, was once surrounded by three moats—one of which survives—fed by the nearby Ota River, which in turn surrounds the castle on three sides. The strategic location now gives tourists a great view of the city and surrounding area.

I love the details of Hiroshima Castle. I always thought that all castles are the same in Japan. But not really. hehe 🙂 They all end up in 360 degree views of the surrounding areas though but their history is different from each other.

After the long flight of stairs, we went back down and explored the shops near the castle. Ang here we are with Hiroshima Castle ice creams. 🙂

And that is our quick visit to Hiroshima Castle. Hope we can visit again soon. 🙂