地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

Northwest Tower (Inui Kotenshu)

The Northwest Tower is a wooden structure with three external stories and four internal floors that stands approximately 13.9 meters above the stone-wall foundation. Although the tower stands to the north of the Great Keep, its Japanese name is written with a character that means “northwest” (乾). The character for “north” (北) carries the association of “defeat” or “retreat,” so the keep may have been deliberately named to avoid these negative connotations.

The Northwest Tower connects to the Great Keep by the multistoried Roofed Passage. These three structures were completed in 1594, when Matsumoto was governed by the Ishikawa family. The castle layout creates a strategic advantage: Matsumoto Castle is the first floor of the Roofed Passage, between the Great Keep and Northwest Tower. This meant that enemy forces attempting to breach the castle doors would be exposed to musket fire on three sides.

Although built at the same time as the Great Keep, the Northwest Tower has some features that set it apart. In contrast to the square pillars of the Great Keep, many of the pillars in the Northwest Tower are round. The reason for this difference is unknown, but there are several theories: it is possible the pillars were reused from nearby temples; the builders may have taken less time to shape them in order to assemble the keep more quickly; or the team of carpenters who built the Northwest Tower may simply have been different from those who built the Great Keep. The pillars of the Northwest Tower have been roughly finished with an adze, creating a distinctive pattern that resembles fish scales.

乾小天守

乾小天守矗立於天守台之上，高約13.9公尺，是一座外觀三層、內四層的木結構建築。這座塔樓位於大天守的正北方，但日文名字卻取了表示「西北」的「乾」字。這可能是因為「北」字往往與「敗北」有關，為避忌諱，才如此取名。

乾小天守與大天守之間有多層式的簷廊「渡櫓」連接。這三處建築都建於1594年，當時石川家統治著松本。城郭的整體布局考慮到了戰略之利：松本城的入口建在渡櫓的地下一層，而渡櫓夾在大天守和乾小天守之間，如果來敵想要突破入口，必會遭受來自三方的火力攻擊。

與同期建成的大天守相比，乾小天守也有它自己的特點。大天守是方形支柱，而乾小天守大多數都是圓形支柱。其中理由無從得知，但諸說紛紜。比如乾小天守直接使用了從附近寺院挪來的現成木柱；工匠急於完工，來不及將這些木柱修整成方形；乾小天守和大天守的建築團隊本就不是同一支等等。乾小天守的木柱還有一大特點，它僅用錛子簡單切削而成，表面呈現出類似魚鱗的獨特紋路。

乾小天守

乾小天守矗立于天守台之上，高约13.9米，是一座外观三层、内四层的木结构建筑。这座塔楼位于大天守的正北方，但日文名字却取了表示“西北”的“乾”字，这或许是因为“北”字往往与“败北”有关，为避忌讳，才如此取名。

乾小天守与大天守之间由多层式的檐廊“渡橹”连接。这三处建筑均建于1594年，当时石川家族统治着松本。城郭的整体布局考虑到了战略之利：松本城的入口建在渡橹的地下一层，而渡橹夹在大天守和乾小天守之间，如果来敌想要突破入口，必定会暴露在三方火力夹攻之下。

与同期建成的大天守相比，乾小天守也有它自己的特点。大天守是方形支柱，而乾小天守大多数都是圆形支柱。其中理由无从得知，但诸说纷纭。例如乾小天守直接使用了从附近寺院挪来的现成木柱；工匠急于完工，来不及将这些木柱修整成方形；乾小天守和大天守的建筑团队本就不是同一支等等。另外，乾小天守的木柱还有一大特点，它仅用锛子简单切削而成，表面呈现出类似鱼鳞的独特纹路。