Photo/Illutration The main keep of Fukuyama Castle in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture. Photo taken Aug. 18, 2022 (Jun Ueda)

FUKUYAMA, Hiroshima Prefecture--If you’ve ever wanted to “lord” it over people, check out Fukuyama Castle.

For a 1.32 million yen ($8,899) fee, couples can stay overnight. The tariff covers dinner and breakfast. 

The feudal fortress was built by Mizuno Katsunari (1564-1651), a cousin of Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616), who was the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It will roll out the red carpet in June for visitors who want to experience such luxury.

“It is a reasonably priced package that offers a unique experience,” said a Fukuyama city official overseeing the program. “Unlike the way things were typically run by feudal lords, our business can never be sloppy.”

Bookings will be accepted from April.

A special welcome ceremony will be held after guests change into garb that marks them as castle lords followed by a sumptuous dinner course featuring local delicacies.

The evening festivities will include a live koto performance as well as cups of regional sake served on the top floor of the fortress’s donjon.

All other programs are designed to make guests feel they have “arrived,” in the sense they have the castle all to themselves.

Officials said the castle stay program is also expected to attract well-heeled visitors from overseas who are passionate about Japanese culture.

The castle’s main keep and other facilities were refurbished in 2022 to mark its 400th anniversary, prompting Fukuyama city authorities to consider how best to capitalize on this tourism resource.

For inquires, contact the Fukuyama Arts Foundation.

Related News