8) Fushimi Castle (伏見城)🏯🌸
Fushimi-jō (伏見城), known also as Momoyama Castle (桃山城), was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi between 1592-94 as his retirement base.
Stripped and dismantled by the Tokugawa from 1623, a replica (now closed) was built in 1964 as part of "Castle Land".
With the battle lost, almost everyone within the palace committed ritual suicide. The floorboards were flooded with gore and blood.
In total it's said that only 10 soldiers from Mototada’s regiment survived the siege. 1,600 men died that day.
For 10 days little happened, the castle's fortifications proving almost impregnable (a fire in one of the towers was quickly extinguished).
Then, a devious plan was devised.
A letter, directed to one of the defenders, was shot by arrow into the castle.
It warned the defender that unless he helped end the siege his wife and children (now hostage) would be crucified.
Camellia Tea Ceremony