Virtual tour to Ozu castle

As much as we'd like to introduce new places we've visited, however, the circumstances caused by a coronavirus epidemic recently avoid our conducts. Then we happen to try introducing new places from information of the YouTube images and others. We're afraid that heat, coldness, fragrance would not be described, if we didn't visit there.

It's worth trying any action. 

Let's go to a virtual tour to the Ozu castle.

First of all, what routes we can choose when we visit? 

Osaka is the center of the Kansai district, so there are many route selections from by air to by ferry. We selected means of transportation by train and by bus.

When you choose a train system, the most convenient way is using a Shinkansen. From Shin-osaka station to Okayama station you can ride a Shinkansen train. And you transfer to an express train bound for Matsuyama station in Ehime prefecture. Furthermore, you should transfer one more time to another express bound for Iyo-ozu station (the destination). This time you use 3 routes and the travel time is approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes.

If you hope cheaper way, Express buses will be nominated for the candidates. You transfer to Sannomiya in the Kobe city by train or by bus first. Then you ride an express bus to Uwajima city in Ehime prefecture. There are only 2 buses a day, daytime and night. It takes approximately 6 hours. As additional information according to recent situation, all express buses will be temporally suspended.  

The Ozu city where the Ozu castle is located has around 42000 citizens. It is an ordinary small rural city in Ehime prefecture. Its tourist spot is only the Ozu castle, we can't find another attractive destination. 

This is the first attempt from here.

We recommend YouTube video named "Ehime Voyage Japon Chateau d'Ozu". The length is 12 minutes 22 seconds. The exact title is "Ehime Voyage Japon Chateau d'Ozu 1（大洲城）～大洲城編～愛媛旅".

We think you should use words "Ehime Voyage Japon" when you copy and paste. Then, you may find several "Ehime Voyage Japon" video series and search and select "大洲城". It will be the correct one.

The used languages are Japanese and probably Spanish, and we can't understand what they are saying in this video without Japanese. However, they visit the inside of the castle actually and talk about several highlights. So, we think we can feel the atmosphere of this tourist facility. 

In this video, a Japanese reporter and a guide originally from foreign country visit the Ozu castle. We can find that most of the castle site have changed into a town. The video begins with a scene of their looking at an old private house. And according to the conversation they chatting, this private house was renovated into a hotel recently.

As for us, this is the first time to look at the inside of the castle area. Architecture is only the main tower and 2 corner towers, and these are connected with each other. And also the stone walls are partly surviving at riverside. We expect too much of the preservation, so all in all we are disappointed in this castle a little.   

We find another video featuring the Ozu castle.

This YouTube video's name is "Ozu Caste -Ehime- 大洲城 - 4K Ultra HD". The length is 7 minutes 28 seconds. This is also interesting.

The history of this castle

Ozu district was quite important for local people at the old time. There were several highways around this district, and these routes intersected there. And the Utsunomiya clan became a leader of this area in the late Kamakura period, approximately 700 years ago. They made a residential castle, the Ozu castle there.

During the Sengoku period, approximately 450 years ago, this area was the target of the Mouri clan's army and the Chosokabe clan's. (The Mouri clan ruled almost the Cyugoku district, on the other hand, the Chosokabe ruled southern area of the Sikoku island.)

Then the Kobayakawa clan who was a relative of the Mouri clan destroyed all of the rural lords included the Utsunomiya clan approximately 435 years ago. For the new conqueror, this castle was not big enough for his residential castle, so he made another castle in another region.

The main castle tower

This present-day appearance was designed by Todo Takatora, one of famous Sengoku Warriors and the Lord of this castle during 1595 to 1609. He is said that good at designing castles and he planed many castles in his life. There are several castles he involved around Japan.

Soutou-gata building method or the layer tower type caslte-tower building method was invented by him. And this castle's main tower was the first appearance of his invention. Before his Soutou-gata, main towers were made by complicated building style, and these buildings needed long construction time. His invention made the construction time shortened dramatically. This Ozu castle is said that his representative example.

As described above, the Ozu castle is a historically important castle, however, its main tower was demolished at approximately 130 years ago. 2 corner towers are remained, but the castle without the main tower isn't attractive for many people. Based on such situation, the main tower was reconstructed in 2004. (2 corner towers are original, which reconstructed during the Edo period (approximately 160 years ago) and are registered as important national assets.)  

For this new project, the building method wasn't reinforced concrete method but traditional wooden method. Because local people hoped to use the traditional method. And this decision was outrageous but wonderful, for Japanese building standard law didn't allow this kind of application before this building. There was a narrow way which required to certificate using special research and study. City authorities and the construction company tried to submit the application and passed the examination. Seems like the way was quite hard.

The first reconstructed main castle tower by the traditional wooden method was built at the Kakegawa castle site in 1994. However, its application was ambiguous. The construction company submitted the building application using a broad interpretation and was accepted their method. On the other hand, this Ozu castle construction team tried 'frontal breakthrough'. 

Amazing!

Like the original main tower had established innovative building method, this reconstructed main tower brought about innovation. 

Additional information

This castle has the only feature. 

You can stay the night. The accommodation fee is amazing price and 1 million yen for 2 adults per 1 night. (The guests payed this amount can enjoy many attractions by themselves like the Lord of this castle.)

Why is it possible?

Because the construction date makes it possible. Newly made building can use as a hotel, however, historical buildings are usually banned to accommodate.

If you are interested in this information, please check below.

'CASTLE STAY'