This is one of twelve original castles remaining in Japan, in the town of Matsumoto in central Honshu, and one of the most spectacular castles in all of Japan. It was one of only three "black castles" (referring to the black paint). This was shot from across the moat. The town is very quaint and I believe the wasabi capital of Japan is nearby, although I didn't know this at the time. I got pulled over by the police on my bicycle ride back to the hostel; the hostel owner neglected to tell me that I need to have a light on the bike if I'm riding after dark. There were some language barriers with the police but as soon as they found out I was from Canada they became very friendly and I was allowed to go on my way. Canadians have a great reputation internationally and I've run into this type of reception many times in various countries.
