View from the Garden next to Taketa history museum (Taketa Town, Oita Prefecture, Japan)
This is from my 2009 tour of Taketa (Takeda) town in Oita Prefecture, Japan.
Taketa Playlist HERE:
This is an old video from my old account. I'm re-uploading it here in an effort to keep all my videos in one place. The original video is HERE:
Travelogue video playlist HERE:
Travels in Oita Prefecture HERE:
Japan Travel: Usuki Samurai District, Castle Ruins Historical Road, Oita
Japan Travel: Usuki Samurai District, Castle Ruins Historical Road, Oita 【★036★Oita Usuki Samurai District】 Subscribe link :
Usuki's samurai district is located at its city center, and parts of it keep the flavor of an old castle town with their stone paved alleys lined by premodern looking houses.
The main attraction is the Nioza Historical Road, a 200 meter photogenic narrow alleyway which runs along temples and residences built in Edo Period style architecture, making a feeling of the past. Parallel to it runs the Haccho Oji Shopping Street, a merchant street with a neighborhood atmosphere, lined by shops selling local specialties, groceries and etc. Walking westwards for about five minutes brings you to Ryugenji, with nice three-storied pagoda.
The Ruins of Usuki Castle It is located on the eastern side of the district. Currently a neighborhood park is located on the former castle grounds. Unfortunately, most of the castle buildings including the main keep have been destroyed over the years, and today the only prominent structures remaining are a turret and a gate standing along the park's entrance.
Nioza Historical Road and Castle Ruins Hours: Always open Closed: Opened All Year Round Admission: Free
Today visitors can visit the Inaba Residence, local feudal lord during the Edo Period where the family used to live whenever they returned to visit their home town after they had moved to Tokyo in the Meiji Period. The beautiful wooden residence is set in a tranquil ambience, with simple and elegant interior design, several tatami mat rooms, wide corridors and a nice garden. Another samurai residence open to public is the Marumo Residence, placed at the southern end of the town center.
Inaba Residence Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (Last entry at 16:30) Closed: Opened All Year Round Admission: 320 yen (residence only) 1090 yen (also includes stone Buddhas and two other museums)
Marumo Residence Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 Closed: Mondays (following day if Monday is a national holiday), New Year holidays Admission: Free
Access Information: The attractions of the samurai district are all located within walking distance of Usuki and Kami-Usuki Stations. It takes around 10-15 minutes to walk to the Nioza Historical Road from either station.