Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto Castle is one of the few remaining Japanese castles in their original form, which means that not only is the overall picture more or less the way it used to be, but the construction details are also authentic so you can start to understand how the thing was put together. A rather cunning structural design which mean that in the event of it catching fire, only alternate storeys would collapse, leaving the overall castle intact; and for the romantically inclined, it has a "moon viewing platform". To me this combination of military functionalism and ethereal, Zen aesthetics sums up the Japanese paradox. There is no need for me to add anything about the history, for you will be bombarded with the omnipresent soundtrack repeated endlessly over the loudspeaker system wherever you go.