Map of Castles of the Kansai Region - an introduction

Easy: Multiple days

Other Information: Family Friendly

Overview: Dating from the late 15th-century, to the early 16th-century,castle construction in Japan was at it's peak.They were built to guard important or strategic sites, such as ports, river-crossings,or crossroads and almost always incorporated the landscape into their defence.Though they were built to last, and used more stone in their construction than most Japanese buildings,castles were constructed primarily of wood, and many were destroyed over the years.

Today, there are more than one-hundred castles extant,or partly-extant, in Japan, and, at one point, there was estimated to be some five-thousand castles in existence.

For the purposes of this "Bundle", I will be sharing information on seven-castles in the "Kansai Region".One castle from each of the seven prefectures that make-up the Kansai - Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Nara, Shiga, Wakayama and Mie.

Each destination is easily accessible.Some castles are small (like in the case of Hikone-jo), whereas there are some that are big (like in the case of Himeji-jo). As well as information on the castle, I will include information on activities and sights in the area.With some of the "Guides", the map will give you directions to/from the castle, leaving your route, once inside, up to you, as with others, I will route you to other sites worth seeing/visiting.

Some of the castles mentioned, will be in their original condition, some reconstructed and some ruins.

In some instances I will use the Japanese word to describe the P.O.I., with the English translation in brackets.

Tips: The public transport system in Japan is second-to-none. You can get to the most isolated towns/villages anywhere in Japan, and, you can set your watch to the timetable they run to.The destinations mentioned in this "Bundle", are within easy access of any city in the Kansai region, as well as outside the region.

What to wear, depends on what time of year you visit the region. I would suggest you dress accordingly.

Food/drink wise. There is a vending-machine on most corners, and a combination-store on the others. Failing that, the restaurant/cafe scene is huge.

Everywhere you go, there will be the souvenir shop to help you with those little somethings to take home for family and friends.