Fukuyama Castle is right in front of the North Exit of JR Fukuyama Station in eastern Hiroshima Prefecture, and is one of Japan’s Top 100 Castles. It was built in a strategic location for the Edo Shogunate to control the feudal lords of western Japan, and is known for its strong yet beautiful structure, which comes from the iron-plated exterior of the northern wall. By bullet train, it is around 25 minutes from Hiroshima Station, and around 60 minutes from Osaka Station, making it very accessible, and you can see the castle from the train windows. In spring, the castle is colorfully decorated by around 300 cherry blossom trees in bloom.

Katsunari Mizuno, the first lord of the Fukuyama domain, built Fukuyama Castle in 1622 under the orders of Ieyasu Tokugawa, his cousin and the first Shogun of the Edo Shogunate. The central keep of the castle was destroyed during the air raids in 1945, and was rebuilt with donations by locals and regional businesses in 1966. As part of major renovations for the 400th anniversary of the castle’s construction, the outer wall was restored using iron plates. The Fushimi-yagura Turret and Sujigane Gomon Gate have been designated as National Important Cultural Properties.

The keep is made up of two buildings; the larger five-tier six-floor keep and the smaller two-tier three-floor keep. The large keep is around 35m high, and the northern wall is the only castle wall in Japan to be completely covered in iron plating. The interior is now the Fukuyama Castle Museum, and the highest floor is an observation deck. The bell-shaped windows in the wall and the crenelations through which samurai could shoot matchlock guns are also must-sees.

This turret is a valuable structure, as it was moved from Fushimi Castle in Kyoto to be made into living quarters for Hideyoshi Toyotomi, the warlord who unified Japan in 1590. The three-tier three-floor tower is awe-inspiring, with its magnificent white-walled exterior. There are also stories that it was used as an armory.

The castle’s main gate remains as it was when the castle was built. The large gates are made from Japanese velkova, a beautiful and strong wood, made even stronger by having multiple thin metal plates, known as sujigane, fixed in place using metal rivets. This is how the gate got its name.

Built between 1935 and 1937 as a guest house by Anbe Wasuke, a native of Fukuyama who worked as a dealer in marine foods. It has also been registered as a Japanese Tangible Cultural Property. The hall was made using traditional Japanese wooden architecture. The property also includes a western-style building that has become a café, and a Japanese garden with views of Fukuyama Castle.

The Fukuyama Castle Museum, located inside the castle keep, has many items related to Fukuyama Castle on display, including the armor of Katsunari Mizuno, the first lord of the domain. The large three-screened theater, measuring an incredible 3.5m high and 14m wide, helps you learn about the history of the castle and Fukuyama. There are also experience courses that help you feel like a samurai, such as matchlock gun shooting and spearhead Ichibannyari racing. Another appeal of the museum is the sweeping views of Fukuyama City from the top floor.

You can walk around the outside of the keep on the fifth and top-most floor on the keep on the mawarien circular cornice and using the kouran hand railing, letting you take in 360-degree views of the city.

There are many legends about Katsunari Mizuno, who was known for his bravery. At the age of 87, he could astonish people by shooting targets around 36m away using matchlock guns. You can use a replica matchlock gun to shoot targets and take a commemorative picture in front of ones you shot well.

Fukuyama Castle Park is illuminated every day from sunset to 24:00. Not only can you enjoy night-time strolls, but you can also enjoy the view from hotels and bullet-train windows. There is also a special accommodation plan, limited to one group per day, that gives you the special experience of living like a castle lord for a day.

The illuminations were designed and planned by Motoko Ishii, a lighting designer who works around the world, and create a mystical scene of the white walls, and especially the keep, rising up. The beautiful contrast between this and the black iron-plated north wall is also a must-see.

You can rent the entire castle for a night and stay there as you enjoy a historic cultural experience. There will be a host of experiences to enjoy, including a night-time museum tour in the keep, a live performance of traditional music on the top floor, special tours inside Fushimi-yagura Turret, eating and sleeping in the Tukimi-yagura Turret, bathing and using the sauna of the Daimyo’s Bathhouse, and breakfast in Fukuju Kaikan Hall.

There is also multilingual support available, so that people who want to know more details about the castle can do so with ease. Audio guides are available in English, and displays are in five languages, including English.