英語版のサイトに "Ruins of Matsue Castle" のページをアップロードしました：
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/index.html
松江城は1607年(慶長12年)から1612年(慶長17年)にかけ、堀尾吉晴 (1543-1611) によって築かれたお城です。
築城後、松江城は松江藩の政庁となりました。松江城の天守は江戸時代からの現存で国宝に指定されています。
"Ruins of Matsue Castle" のページへどうぞ：
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Chugoku/MatsueCastle_E.html
日本版の散策記は下記です：
http://shanehashi.html.xdomain.jp/Oshiromeguri/ChugokuShikoku/MatsueJyo.html
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My English site:
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/index.html
Matsue Castle was built by HORIO Yoshiharu(1543-1611) during 1607 and 1612.
HORIO Yoshiharu became the first castle lord and the first feudal lord of Matsue Domain.
In Matsue Castle, the palace of the castle lord and the government houses of Matsue Domain were located.
Matsue Castle is located to the north of Lake Shinji on a small hill, named Kameda-Yama.
The main and the second bailey are located inside the inner moat.
The third bailey was located to the south of Kameda-Yama Hill surrounded by the outer moats.
The inner and the outer moats of Matsue Castle almost entirely remain until now.
If you walk to the north from Lake Shinji, you will see turrets of Matsue Castle on the Kameda-Yama Hill beyond the inner moat.
Beyond the "Ote-Mon" Gate, you will see the "Ninomaru-Shitanodan", which is the lower level of the second bailey.
The view from the north end of the "Ninomaru-Shitanodan" Bailey was very nice.
You will see the "Kita-Somon Bashi" Bridge across the inner moat and the Matsue History Museum.
You will also see a treasure boat, which goes through moats of Matsue Castle.
The atmosphere of this scenery is wonderful and will remind you of the Edo Age (1603-1868) .
If you go back to the site of the "Ote-Mon" Gate, you will look up the "Taiko" Turret on the second bailey, which is ten to fifteen meters high.
Stone stairs continue from the Second Bailey to the Main Bailey.
At the entrance of the Main Bailey, the "Tamon" Turret and a gate are located.
After passing through the gate, you will be in the Main Bailey. You will see the Main Castle Tower.
The Main Castle Tower is the original building and was built in 1611.
Black wooden boarded walls give the impression of sharp and strong.
The architecture was mainly used for the castle buildings built before 1600.
The views from the top flower of the Main Castle Tower re spectacular.
If you look to the south, you will see Lake Shinji beyond downtown Matsue.
After visiting the Main Castle Tower, you will glance back it.
The view of the Main Castle Tower is very beautiful.
The Main Tower of Matsue Castle is one of twelve existing main castle towers from the Edo Age, and is designated as a national treasure of Japan.
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