Exhibition Guide

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Exhibition Guide

1st Floor: Castle of The Boso Area

Panels introduce the time between the middle and modern ages, (12th-19th century), and guests can enjoy watching video recordings which introduce the history and culture of the surrounding areas.

 

2nd Floor: The Castle and the Warrior

An introduction of the time period from the middle through to the modern ages, including a display of various arms that were used in battles.

The Warrior's Armor

Gorgeous armors called Oyoroi, or "Big armor", where created around the 12th century. Later on, around the 15th and 16th centuries when fighting occurred frequently, various other types of armors were fabricated as well.

 

TheWarrior's Sword

The Nihonto, or Japanese sword, was greatly developed in the 10th century, around the time of the formation of the lordship system in Japan.

 

3rd Floor: The Castle and the Suburbs

The theme of the exhibition is the culture and lifestyle of the people in the castle towns.

At the outset of the 17th century, as many as 12,000 people were living in assigned residential areas in the newly formed town surrounding Otaki castle.

There were warriors, farmers, craftsmen and merchants, and people with same the profession assemble together, creating their own sub-towns. (Koya Machi, Kaji Machi, Saruine Machi, etc.,). (See below)

Articles made by craftsmen as well as craftsmen's tools, merchant's account books, cash boxes, various currencies used at the time, warriors attire, crockery and house ware used by their wives are displayed in this room, together with artistic and cultural assets such as China ink paintings, tea ceremony utensils, etc..,

 

Koya Machi …… Dyer's Residence
Kaji Machi …… Arms and Cutlery Craftsmen's Residence
Saruine Machi …… Carpenter's Residence

 

4th Floor: The Castle and the Town

A diorama based on the restored Otaki Castle Town gives a clear picture of the original site.

Also scenery of Otaki Town and its surroundings, as well as a distant view of mountains and fields are portrayed as seen from the 4 windows located at defferent corners of the castle.

In addition to the model, some of the old castle's facilities that have become tangible assets are shown on photo-panels.

 

The Castle Town

Towards the end of the 12th century, castles towns were built with wars in mind, at the same time were centers for politics and trade. After the 17th century, castle towns were planned taking professions and social ranks into consideration, and people were assigned their dwelling places accordingly.