Most viewed - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Most viewed - Shibata 新発田市

Shibata Castle, Niigata (Sangai Yagura Turret)260 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.260 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.257 views

Completed around 1654, Shibata Castle is the only castle in Niigata with Edo-Era structures still remaining. Two turrets were reconstructed in June 2004. 256 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 Park map217 views

Statue of Horibe Yasubei (1670-1703). He looks toward Edo (Tokyo).177 views

Horibe Yasubei was also a master swordsman. 堀部安兵衛172 views

Sangai Yagura Turret, Shibata Castle. Reconstructed in June 2004 with traditional building methods taking 2 years. 三階櫓153 views

Sangai Yagura Turret, Shibata Castle 三階櫓143 views

Shibata Castle is also called Ayame Castle 菖蒲城.142 views

Banner with the five-diamond clan crest. Sangai Yagura Turret in the distance134 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.126 views

Statue of Lord Mizoguchi Hidekatsu (1548-1610), the first lord of Shibata Castle. 溝口秀勝122 views

Moat leading to Kyu-Ninomaru Sumi-yagura Turret113 views

Omotemon Gate, another Important Cultural Property113 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113 views

Kyu-Ninomaru Sumi-yagura Turret, an Important Cultural Property 旧二の丸隅櫓113 views

Inside Tatsumi Yagura Turret 辰巳櫓112 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..111 views

Inside upper floor of Omotemon Gate 表門111 views

Shibata Castle is the only castle in Niigata with Edo-era structures still standing.109 views

Omotemon Gate 表門109 views

Sangai Yagura Turret, Shibata Castle 三階櫓108 views

Statue of Lord Mizoguchi Hidekatsu (1548-1610), the first lord of Shibata Castle. 溝口秀勝108 views

Inside upper floor of Omotemon Gate 表門108 views

Steps to Tatsumi Yagura Turret, reconstructed in June 2004. 辰巳櫓107 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.107 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.107 views