Today started earlier than usual because we had a big day planned—visiting a Japanese castle and a real ninja temple. Since the castle opened at 9:00 a.m. and attracts a lot of visitors every day, we decided to go there first. The ninja temple didn’t open until 11:00, so it made sense to save that for later.
We began our visit at the castle gardens, which were calm and beautiful. There were ducks gliding across the water, tall trees swaying gently, ravens perched nearby, and bright flowers adding color everywhere. From there, we slowly made our way upward toward the castle itself.
The outer walls were especially interesting. They were designed for defense, with three separate openings where archers could fire arrows at approaching enemies—definitely something meant to intimidate anyone trying to attack. The gates were extremely thick and sturdy, although surprisingly, there was a small opening at the bottom where soldiers could crawl through. It didn’t seem like the strongest part of the defense!
Inside the castle, there were some unusual pillars and displays of impressive armor that gave a glimpse into what life might have been like for the warriors who once lived there. It really felt like stepping back in time.
After exploring the castle, we headed toward the ninja temple. On the way, we passed a couple of places that looked similar—one seemed like a cheap imitation and another felt like a tourist trap—but eventually, we found the real one.
The ninja temple was incredible. It was full of hidden rooms and clever tricks designed to confuse or trap intruders. There were sliding floorboards, stairs that could disappear, and even a room where hidden servants could use spears to attack someone’s feet if they entered uninvited. It was both fascinating and a little scary to imagine how all of it worked in the past.
