#3 - Nagoya-jo

Nagoya-jo is a very famous castle, which now serves as a museum of sorts. There are exhibits describing the history of the city, and the way in which the castle has changed over the years.

Many of the features of the castle grounds remain, like this moat, which adds to a sense of the history of the place. I had never seen a castle before, and this was pretty impressive.

Stones had to be dragged from around the area to build the castle, and each feudal lord who did so wanted credit for his - or rather his servants' - work. You can still see their clan markings on many of the stones that make up the structures of Nagoya-jo.

Here, amazingly, was preserved an ancient structure where the Japanese dressed as shrubs and donned plastic space helmets to worship their lobster-shrub god. Or something. I honestly have no idea what this is about.

Nagoya-jo is most famous for the two giant golden dolphins that adorn the very top of the castle. Picture taking is prohibited throughout the interior of the catsle, except here, where you - yes, YOU! - can enjoy the majestic splendor of the Nagoya-jo golden dolphins in plastic form. Want your picture taken while sitting on one?