Sakura, Cherry Blossom At Wakayama Castle Editorial Photo

Wakayama Castle (Wakayama-jo) was built by the hegemon Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who ruled Japan in the latter half of the 16th century. It subsequently received major repairs in the 17th century by Yorinobu, the son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founding shogun of the Edo shogunate, which ruled Japan from the beginning of the 17th century. It was a castle belonging to the relatives of the Tokugawa until about 1860. From the latter half of the 19th century, when Japan became a modern state, the castle buildings were gradually demolished and the castle tower was almost destroyed as well. It remained untouched, however, thanks to the objections raised by the local residents. It was designated a National Treasure in 1935, but was destroyed in WWâ…¡. The existing donjon was rebuilt in 1958, but the inner moat and the stone wall surrounding the castle have remained unchanged throughout the 400 years of history.