Japan - Hikone-Jo Castle

"Castle architecture of Japan was established in the mid-sixteenth century. Hikonejo belongs to the golden age of castle architecture of the early seventeenth century. It has retained well the entire form of the castle, including its defensive sections and the lord's residential area. Hikonejo consists of an inner block with a hill facing Lake Biwa in its center and surrounded by a moat and an outer block vvhich surrounds this inner block. The defensive sections and the lord's residence are built within the inner block, making good use of the natural land formation of the hill. Houses of upper-class samurai-are found in the outer block. A moat also surrounds this outer block. Beyond this moat is the joka-machi consisting of a residential district for ordinary people and a commercial district. A third moat surrounds this area." Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

Hikone-Jo Castle in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture in Kansai, Honshu Island with cherry blossoms. Nice flower stamps used. Thanks to Cockie of Japan.