Matsumoto Castle Nagano, Japan Musha-bashiri This passage lies 50cm lower than the first floor’s main level. It is wider than other similar passages throughout the castle. It is called Musha-bashiri or “Warriors’ running passage”. You can image this passage was constructed to allow samurai in full armor-during times of battle around the interior and help defend the castle from attack. Look carefully and you can see the outer pillars are set in arc. This is because they follow the line of the stone foundation that curves in similar fashion. 国宝松本城 武者走り 天守一階の周囲1間通りは、内側の床より50cm低い。これを入側または武者走りと呼ぶ。戦闘の時、武士が矢玉を持ってここを走りまわるのでその名がついたという。 https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/photo/110974670469184990448/6373557090153847810
Osaka Castle, Japan 大阪城天守閣 Built in 1583 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉) The castle is one of Japan's most famous landmarks and it played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. The central castle building is five stories on the outside and eight stories on the inside, and built atop a tall stone foundation to protect its occupants from attackers.
What makes a building iconic? Mode Gakuen Spiral Towers Nagoya, Japan