Changes

*''Japanese'': 弘前城 ''(Hirosaki-jou)''

*''Japanese'': 弘前城 ''(Hirosaki-jou)''

Hirosaki castle (also known as Takaoka castle) is located in the city of [[Hirosaki]] in [[Aomori Prefecture]] (the historical [[Mutsu province]], which was also known as ''Rikochu''). During the [[Muromachi period]] the [[Tsugaru clan]] had established themselves at [[Oura castle]], which was slightly to the west of the site of Hirosaki. The Tsugaru relocated to [[Horikoshi castle]] in [[1594]] (which was more secure from hostile neighbors) and finally to Hirosaki in [[1610]]. Hirosaki castle was built from 1610-1611, replacing an earlier structure built in [[1560]] by [[Tsugaru Tamenobu]]. Unlike many other clans, the Tsugaru were never moved from their fief and kept control of the castle until the [[Meiji Restoration]].

Hirosaki castle (also known as Takaoka castle) is located in the city of [[Hirosaki]] in [[Aomori Prefecture]] (the historical [[Mutsu province]], which was also known as ''Rikuchû'' (陸中)). During the [[Muromachi period]] the [[Tsugaru clan]] had established themselves at [[Oura castle]], which was slightly to the west of the site of Hirosaki. The Tsugaru relocated to [[Horikoshi castle]] in [[1594]] (which was more secure from hostile neighbors) and finally to Hirosaki in [[1610]]. Hirosaki castle was built from 1610-1611, replacing an earlier structure built in [[1560]] by [[Tsugaru Tamenobu]]. Unlike many other clans, the Tsugaru were never moved from their fief and kept control of the castle until the [[Meiji Restoration]].

While the castle qualifies as a ''[[hirayamajiro]]'', it more closely resembles a ''[[hirajiro]]'' due to the rather small hill it was built on. The ''[[honmaru]]'' was surrounded by three irregularly shaped rings of moats and the castle grounds measured about 1 km north to south and 500 meters east to west. The castle did not feature the extensive ''[[ishigaki]]'' seen in other structures of the period, but for the most part used earthen embankments. ''Ishigaki'' were only used around the ''honmaru''. The original ''[[tenshu]]'' was five stories tall and was located in the southwest corner of the ''honmaru''. It was struck by lightning in 1627 and burned down. The castle then fell into disuse for about 200 years. The Tsugaru returned in [[1810]] and built a new ''tenshu''. For some reason which has never been uncovered, this structure was built on the southeast corner of the ''honmaru'' and would therefore be more properly classified as a ''[[yagura]]''. It features a very simple style of architecture (with small and unadorned windows, although it does use projecting windows on the sides facing outward) and has three exterior and three interior stories. Remaining from the original 1610-1611 structure are five gates and three corner towers. The three corner towers also have three stories, as does the ''tenshu'', but are much smaller. The roofs were at one time covered in wood shingles but now feature copper sheeting. The gateways are two-story structures roofed with traditional tiling. As with most two-story gates, they have a lower story pent roof, but these are located higher up on the structure (to take advantage of the main roof’s protection from snowfall). The gates (including the well preserved ''Ninomaru Higashimon'') are not flanked by ''ishigaki'' as seen at other castles, but as noted earlier use earthen embankments.

While the castle qualifies as a ''[[hirayamajiro]]'', it more closely resembles a ''[[hirajiro]]'' due to the rather small hill it was built on. The ''[[honmaru]]'' was surrounded by three irregularly shaped rings of moats and the castle grounds measured about 1 km north to south and 500 meters east to west. The castle did not feature the extensive ''[[ishigaki]]'' seen in other structures of the period, but for the most part used earthen embankments. ''Ishigaki'' were only used around the ''honmaru''. The original ''[[tenshu]]'' was five stories tall and was located in the southwest corner of the ''honmaru''. It was struck by lightning in 1627 and burned down. The castle then fell into disuse for about 200 years. The Tsugaru returned in [[1810]] and built a new ''tenshu''. For some reason which has never been uncovered, this structure was built on the southeast corner of the ''honmaru'' and would therefore be more properly classified as a ''[[yagura]]''. It features a very simple style of architecture (with small and unadorned windows, although it does use projecting windows on the sides facing outward) and has three exterior and three interior stories. Remaining from the original 1610-1611 structure are five gates and three corner towers. The three corner towers also have three stories, as does the ''tenshu'', but are much smaller. The roofs were at one time covered in wood shingles but now feature copper sheeting. The gateways are two-story structures roofed with traditional tiling. As with most two-story gates, they have a lower story pent roof, but these are located higher up on the structure (to take advantage of the main roof’s protection from snowfall). The gates (including the well preserved ''Ninomaru Higashimon'') are not flanked by ''ishigaki'' as seen at other castles, but as noted earlier use earthen embankments.