Old Mito Castle Medicine Physician Gate
Old Mito Castle Medicine Physician Gate
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tomizuta1953
Funabashi, Japan1,194 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
The main structures of Japanese Castles are usually Honmaru (main area), Ninomaru (second area) and Sannomaru (third area) and a keep. Honmaru is where the feudal lord resided and is protected by an outer Ninomaru where the chief subordinates resided and a Sannomaru further out housing the defense army. Most castles were abandoned or dismantled after the Meiji Restoration in 1868, so only a handful of castle structures remain intact to this day, except that many keeps have been reconstructed in modern times.
Mito Castle was unique in that the Mito Tokugawa feudal lord permanently resided in Edo, contrary to most lords that resided in their home castles and were obligated to reside in Edo on a periodic basis. Since the feudal lord was absent, Honmaru was used for storage and Ninomaru and Sannomaru was more a municipal office than a castle to defend. Thus Mito Castle did not have a keep. Mito Castle was abandoned in 1871 and very little remains to this day. Mito First High School now stands on the former Honmaru site. This relocated grand gate serving as the entrance gate to the high school and open to the public is usually referred to as Yakuimon, literally physician’s gate which is the oldest surviving piece of the castle building probably dating back to the 16th century. The gate has nothing to do with physicians. Yakuimon was a grand architectural style often used in the feudal lords’ castles.It is only a ten minutes' walk from the major surviving building of Koudoukan. On the way you can visit Ninomaru Exhibition Hall and other remains so if you have time I would recommend you visit this gate at the farthest end. I understand another grand gate Ootemon is now being reconstructed. You will pass by the reconstruction site on your way to Yakushimon from Koudoukan.
Mito Castle was unique in that the Mito Tokugawa feudal lord permanently resided in Edo, contrary to most lords that resided in their home castles and were obligated to reside in Edo on a periodic basis. Since the feudal lord was absent, Honmaru was used for storage and Ninomaru and Sannomaru was more a municipal office than a castle to defend. Thus Mito Castle did not have a keep. Mito Castle was abandoned in 1871 and very little remains to this day. Mito First High School now stands on the former Honmaru site. This relocated grand gate serving as the entrance gate to the high school and open to the public is usually referred to as Yakuimon, literally physician’s gate which is the oldest surviving piece of the castle building probably dating back to the 16th century. The gate has nothing to do with physicians. Yakuimon was a grand architectural style often used in the feudal lords’ castles.It is only a ten minutes' walk from the major surviving building of Koudoukan. On the way you can visit Ninomaru Exhibition Hall and other remains so if you have time I would recommend you visit this gate at the farthest end. I understand another grand gate Ootemon is now being reconstructed. You will pass by the reconstruction site on your way to Yakushimon from Koudoukan.
Written April 2, 2018
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Claim your listingOld Mito Castle Medicine Physician Gate - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Old Mito Castle Medicine Physician Gate
- Hotels near Old Mito Castle Medicine Physician Gate:
- (0.41 mi) Hotel Terrace The Garden Mito
- (0.30 mi) Business Hotel Kamoshita
- (0.33 mi) Sannomaru Hotel
- (0.36 mi) Toyoko Inn Mito-eki Minami-guchi
- (0.50 mi) Daiwa Roynet Hotel Mito
- Restaurants near Old Mito Castle Medicine Physician Gate:
- (0.19 mi) Niigata Tokamachi Onuma Shokudo Mito Excel
- (0.19 mi) Ogamaya Mito Minami
- (0.19 mi) Tully's Coffee
- (0.19 mi) Chinese Restaurant Dai Hong Kong Chubo Mito Excel Minami
- (0.25 mi) All Masters
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