Feudal castles seeing tourism revival

Castles dating to the 17th century or earlier are seeing a resurgence in popularity as tourist attractions.

A young woman gets acquainted with Hiko Nyan (Hiko Meow), the mascot of Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture, which is celebrating its 400th anniversary. KYODO PHOTO

The old castles are the centerpieces of efforts by regional groups, including chambers of commerce, to promote their areas.

The city of Kumamoto is teeming this year with events featuring the 400th anniversary of the construction of Kumamoto Castle in 1607. Similar programs are under way in other parts of the country, and they seem to be successful in drawing many tourists.

Kumamoto Castle was built by warlord Kato Kiyomasa (1562-1611). Kato was in the vanguard in the Japanese invasions, under Toyotomi Hideyoshi, of Korea in 1592-1593 and again in 1597-1598.

A renovation of the castle's donjon based on historical documents is expected to be completed in time for its opening to the public next spring.

An estimated 970,000 people visited Kumamoto Castle in fiscal 2006, up more than 140,000 from the previous fiscal year. Foreign tourists, mainly South Koreans on group tours, were believed to account for up to 30 percent of the visitors. The mayor of Ulsan also visited the castle in February in an exchange between his city and Kumamoto.

The city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, is promoting its castle with the help of Hiko Nyan (Hiko Meow), a popular kitty character who wears a red warrior headpiece. Pins of Hiko Nyan, as well as other items, including stuffed dolls, are being sold at a festival marking the 400th anniversary of Hikone Castle.

Hiko Nyan and other stuffed animals have routinely sold out, snapped up by young women who say they are cute and have a healing effect. Picture books have also proved a hit in local bookstores.

An estimated 520,000 people visited the castle in fiscal 2006, an increase of about 90,000 from the preceding fiscal year. Young women and couples were conspicuous among them.

"With the (400th anniversary) event, we hope the city will leap upward as an international tourist site," said Shozo Kitamura, chairman of the Hikone Chamber of Commerce and head of the executive committee of the festival.

Many of the castles that figure prominently in festivals and events were originally built after the Battle of Sekigahara in present-day Gifu Prefecture. The battle, which took place in October 1600, pitted the eastern forces led by Tokugawa Ieyasu against the western forces, headed by Ishida Mitsunari, successor to Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598), then the ruler of Japan. Tokugawa emerged victorious and subsequently established the shogunate that bears his name.

Meanwhile, other castles are undergoing renovation to lure more visitors.

The inner moat of Sasayama Castle in Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture, is undergoing restoration work for completion in 2009, while reinstallation of the donjon is being carried out in Nagoya Castle.

Middle-aged and elderly people have become conspicuous visitors as castles have become a popular subject matter of lifelong study.

The Japan Castle Foundation plans to launch a stamp rally -- a visit to 100 castles for participants to get the impression of a stamp on their notebooks at each stop -- in June.