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Most viewed - NIIGATA 新潟県

Entrance to Northern Culture Museum, formerly the Japanese-style mansion of the Ito farming family who were a wealthy landowner from the 18th century.234 views1 comments

Completed around 1654, Shibata Castle is the only castle in Niigata with Edo-Era structures still remaining. Two turrets were reconstructed in June 2004. 220 viewsThe castle grounds is also occupied by the Ground Self-Defence Forces, making the area open to the public quite small. One of the reconstructed turrets is also inaccessible due to the military base. Still, it is one of Japan's 100 Famous Castles. Entrance to Shibata Castle.

Shibata Castle, Niigata (Sangai Yagura Turret)206 views

Sangai Yagura Turret with three shachi sculptures on the T-shaped roof. Unique to Shibata Castle. Unfortunately, we cannot enter this turret since it is within the Ground Self-Defence Force base which occupies much of the castle grounds.206 views

Sangai Yagura Turret, Shibata Castle 三階櫓, Niigata. The castle never had a tenshukaku castle tower (donjon), so this turret was the grandest castle structure.201 views

Inner Gate. Museum Web site185 views

Shibata Castle Park map181 views

It's not a large or long run, but better than nothing.164 views

Lake Hyoko (Lake Hyo), a man-made lake where thousands of swans and ducks migrate to during the winter months.164 views

When Wright found out that Bunkichi was a fellow Pennsylvania University graduate, he fully supported the preservation of the property. They saved the property by converting it into a museum. A foundation was established and the property was donated to it153 viewsPictured is Ralph Wright and Itoh Bunkichi VIII (1927- ), the son of Bunkichi VII (1896-1958).1 comments

From Tokyo, Gala Yuzawa is the most convenient place to ski. The Joetsu shinkansen can take you there in little over an hour and the train station has the ski gondola. An easy day trip.147 views

Toki Messe's tower is the city's tallest building at 140 meters.147 views

Inside the Shukokan rice warehouse, now an antique exhibition room. 集古館147 views

Museum office146 views

View from the top.142 views

Statue of Horibe Yasubei (1670-1703). He looks toward Edo (Tokyo).137 views

Horibe Yasubei was also a master swordsman. 堀部安兵衛137 views

The line gets very long during the morning, so I usually go later in the day and ski until night when it is much less crowded. I catch the last shinkansen back to Tokyo.136 views

Central Niigata136 views

The quality of the snow is not as good as in Hokkaido, but better than nothing.132 views

Monument for Itoh Bunkichi VII (1896-1958) and Lt. Ralph E. Wright (from Peoria, Illinois). Right after WWII in 1945, they saved the property from being demolished due to the Land Reform Act.130 views

Pedestrain overpass with swan motif.121 views

Sangai Yagura Turret, Shibata Castle. Reconstructed in June 2004 with traditional building methods taking 2 years. 三階櫓118 views

118 views

Skis left outside as their owners have lunch. It's nice that no one steals your skis.116 views

115 views

It was Japan's first private museum to receive governmental approval. During the years following, it took several years to rebuild the garden and buildings. This is the museum office next to the entrance.111 views

Quack, quack. Actually the ducks were pretty quiet.111 views

Sangai Yagura Turret, Shibata Castle 三階櫓108 views

Map of lake area108 views

Crab106 views

Shibata Castle is also called Ayame Castle 菖蒲城.104 views

Inside Sanraku-tei with unusually shaped tatami mats to fit the triangular floor. It has three rooms, one was a study and another was a tea ceremony room.104 views

Rear view of birth home of Yoshida Togo who was a famous geographer of Japan who compiled an encylopedia of Japanese place names. His son was Yoshida Chiaki who composed the melody of the song "Biwako Shuko no Uta" (Lake Biwa Rowing Song).101 views1 comments

Entrance foyer (unused). I had the pleasure of meeting Itoh Bunkichi VIII who explained about how the property was saved by Lt. Wright. He was the one who built the monument for his father and Lt. Wright.100 views

Acting on reports that the Itoh property was storing hidden materials for the old Imperial Army, Lt. Ralph E. Wright from the American Occupation forces conducted a search and met Itoh Bunkichi VII, the owner. Photo: Grave of Ralph E. White-Peterson.99 views

The museum is within a spacious, garden-like grounds. It includes the main house, tea houses, storehouse, and a few shops and restaurants.98 views

The first room you see is this Cha-no-ma living room where the head of the household greeted guests. Built in 1885-1887, the house has more than 60 rooms, with a floor space of about 4,000 sq. meters. 茶の間98 views

Room with a view: This is the centerpiece of the former home, a large drawing room (Ohiroma) used for large gatherings. It gives a marvelous view of the garden. 大広間98 views

Built in 1891, Sanraku-tei, a highly unusual triangular tea house.　三楽亭98 views

97 views

Crab97 views

Cha-no-ma living room96 views

Irori hearth next to the kitchen. 囲炉裏96 views

Banner with the five-diamond clan crest. Sangai Yagura Turret in the distance95 views

Corridor facing the courtyard.91 views

Salmon90 views

Kyu-Ninomaru Sumi-yagura Turret, one of the two surviving Edo-Era structures. The castle originally had 11 turrets and 5 gates (no castle tower). The Meiji government ordered its destruction in 1872. All the structures were dismantled except two.89 views

2nd floor exhibition room displays various artifacts of the Itoh family. The room formerly served as a storeroom and workroom for making futon and rags. 考古資料館88 views

88 views

Former Hatano residence and birth home of Yoshida Togo 旧旗野邸 (吉田東伍生家)88 views

Sakana-no-Furusato Bandaijima Fish market near Toki Messe. さかなのふるさと万代島87 views

87 views

Statue of Lord Mizoguchi Hidekatsu (1548-1610), the first lord of Shibata Castle. 溝口秀勝84 views

Courtyard garden as seen from the 2nd floor.84 views

84 views

The observation deck is about 125 meters above the ground. The tallest building along the Sea of Japan coast. Fine view of Shinano River.82 views

Display of stuffed toki or crested ibis, an endangered species. Official bird of Niigata and raised on Sado island.82 views

Garden of the birth home of Yoshida Togo81 views

Veranda80 views

Garden facing the drawing rooms. 庭園80 views

JR Niigata Station 新潟駅80 views

Tourist info booth sells duck feed80 views

Niigata Station79 views

Kyu-Ninomaru Sumi-yagura Turret, an Important Cultural Property 旧二の丸隅櫓78 views

Ohiroma drawing room was used only a few times a year for wedding and funeral receptions, etc.78 views

Due to the Meiji government's castle destruction order, most of the castle moats were filled in except for this one next to the Honmaru. After World War II, US troops occupied the castle grounds for a short time..77 views

Omotemon Gate, another Important Cultural Property77 views

Hearth in the kitchen. A bale of rice (60 kg) was cooked every day. Over 50 maids, cooks, and other servants worked in the house.77 views

The rear drawing room was where guests would wait until they were welcomed into the Ohiroma main drawing room.77 views

Corner of rear drawing room (urazashiki)77 views

Entrance to the Yoshida Togo Memorial Museum which exhibits various documents and personal effects of Yoshida Togo. Museum admission 300 yen. Closed Mon.77 views

Inside upper floor of Omotemon Gate 表門76 views

Ohiroma drawing room76 views

Veranda along the courtyard garden76 views

With 100 tatami mats, the Ohiroma drawing room is the most impressive room in the house.76 views

Duck feeding76 views

Shibata Castle is the only castle in Niigata with Edo-era structures still standing.75 views

Moat leading to Kyu-Ninomaru Sumi-yagura Turret75 views

Kyu-Ninomaru Sumi-yagura Turret. Toward the base above the stone wall, notice the "namako-kabe" pattern wall 海鼠壁. It resists snow. 旧二の丸隅櫓75 views

Statue of Lord Mizoguchi Hidekatsu (1548-1610), the first lord of Shibata Castle. 溝口秀勝75 views

Courtyard garden75 views

74 views

Courtyard garden 中庭74 views

Impressive garden views from the rear drawing room (urazashiki)74 views

Omotemon Gate 表門73 views

Inside Tatsumi Yagura Turret 辰巳櫓73 views

Corridor73 views

Road in front of Niigata Station73 views

Tatsumi Yagura Turret, reconstructed in June 2004. 辰巳櫓72 views

Ground Self-Defence Force base occupies half the castle site (since 1953). The reason why we cannot enter the Sangai Yagura Turret seen here within the base.72 views

Ferry to Sado island.72 views

Plate72 views

Lacquerware on display72 views

Rear drawing room (Urazashiki) adjacent to the Ohiroma main drawing room.72 views

On Bandai-bashi Bridge72 views

Bandai-bashi Bridge. The tall building is Toki Messe.72 views

Sangai Yagura Turret, Shibata Castle 三階櫓71 views

Fishing boats71 views

Veranda of Ohiroma drawing room71 views

In Oct. 2008, Lake Hyoko was added to the list of wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.71 views

Inside upper floor of Omotemon Gate 表門70 views

Across from the Omotemon Gate is a small park with a statue of Hirobe Yasubei who was from Shibata and one of the 47 ronin (masterless samurai) who avenged his master Lord Asano of Ako, dramatized in Chushingura.70 views

In the foreground is Bandaibashi Bridge, spanning Shinano River.70 views

Inside Yoshida Togo Memorial Museum. The 2nd floor also has a display panel about his son Yoshida Chiaki who composed the song "Hitsuji-gusa" whose melody was used in the song "Biwako Shuko no Uta" (Lake Biwa Rowing Song).70 views

Stone wall with perfectly-fitting stones. No gaps between the stones.69 views

Inside Tatsumi Yagura Turret 辰巳櫓69 views

Omotemon Gate, one of two Edo-Era structures in Shibata Castle and an Important Cultural Property. 表門69 views

Steps to Tatsumi Yagura Turret, reconstructed in June 2004. 辰巳櫓69 views

68 views

View from upper floor of Omotemon Gate 表門68 views

Toki Messe is a multipurpose complex which includes a convention center, exhibition hall, hotel and office tower (the city's tallest building), art museum, and an observation deck on the 31st floor.68 views