Wakayama Castle

 Last Wednesday I went to Wakayama City on business, and on my way back to the office I stopped by Wakayama Castle. Since it was a weekday, the grounds were quiet and peaceful, even though the sky was a bit cloudy.

 

Wakayama Castle was originally built in 1585, and from 1619 to 1868 it served as the residence of the Kishu?Tokugawa family, one of the three major branches of the Tokugawa clan. The eighth shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, was born here.

 

 The castle was destroyed in Allied air raids during World War II, but it was rebuilt in 1958 using reinforced concrete and is now open to the public.

 

In spring, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, the castle surrounded by pink flowers is truly beautiful.