The most protected area of a Japanese castle, surrounded by the last line of defensive walls, was called honmaru, the “main circle". Inside the honmaru were built the most important buildings of the castle: the main tower (tenshu), living quarters for the castle’s lord, storehouses and other buildings considered essential for the survival of the castle.

Among the 12 Japanese castles that survived until today with the original tenshu, only one has all the original honmaru buildings - the Kochi Castle.

Kochi castle, Kochi

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Old and New Architecture in Tokyo, the new Ginza Kabuki theater