どっちが本格的な烏城？/ Which is the real Crow Castle?

日本に様々な城があります。僕は観光のために、たくさん城は行ったことがありました。城に武具とか、刃物とか、服装とか、様々な戦国時代の物が供覧していました。じゃ、「松本城」と「岡山城」どっちが本格的な烏城ですか？
There are many different types of castle in Japan. And since you don't really get them in Singapore, therefore I decided to visit some of them when I'm travelling in Japan. They have put a lot of interesting artefacts on display in the castles. It can be artefacts like a piece of Japanese armor, weapons from the different periods of Japan, etc... But, which one do you think is the 'Crow Castle'? Is it 'Matsumoto Castle' or 'Okayama Castle'?

解答は二つも本格的な「烏城」です。しかし、 In actual fact, both castles are also known as the 'Crow Castle'. However...
「松本城」の別称は 「烏城（からすじょう）」です。 'Matsumoto Castle' is also known as the 'Crow Castle'(Karasu Jou).	「岡山城」の別称は 「烏城（うじょう）」です。 'Okayama Castle' is also known as the 'Crow Castle'(U Jou).
注意よ、漢字がだいたい同じですが、読み方が全然違います。 実はね、日本に黒い城がとても珍しいです。 その上、漢字がだいたい同じな城がもっと珍しいです。 それが面白いと思います。 Take note, although they are known as the 'Crow Castle' and the Japanese Kanji might appear to be the same, but the pronunciation are completely different. In fact, castle in black are pretty rare in Japan and on top of that, castle written using the same Kanji are even much more rare. Therefore, I personally find the castles in Japan to be pretty interesting.

以上は僕は「松本城」で撮ったの写真です。 The above are photos that I have taken at 'Matsumoto Castle'.

以上は僕は「岡山城」で撮ったの写真です。 The above are photos that I have taken at 'Okayama Castle'.

* これは「松本城」の資料です。
^ これは「岡山城」の資料です。
~ これは「松本城」で撮ったの写真です。
# これは「岡山城」で撮ったの写真です。
* Click here to find out more about 'Matsumoto Castle'.
* Click here to find out more about 'Okayama Castle'.
~ Click here for the photos that I have taken at 'Matsumoto Castle'.
# Click here for the photos that I have taken at 'Okayama Castle'.

市内のお城 / A castle in the city

万城目学の小説「プリンセス・トヨトミ」に、赤い大阪城のことに言い及びました。僕は赤い大阪城を見たことがありません。しかし、インタネットによると、2011年映画「プリンセストヨトミ」の試写会の為に、真っ赤な大阪城が表していました。とにかく、今週は大阪城を紹介します。
In the novel 'Princess Toyotomi' that was written by Manabu Makime, it has mentioned about Osaka castle turning into red color. Although I have not see a red color Osaka castle before, it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. During the year 2011, for the sake of the premier of the movie 'Princess Toyotomi', the city of Osaka decided to light up the Osaka castle in red. Anyway, the journey this week, would be a trip to Osaka castle.

大阪城の地図
城を中心に、広い公園が広がる公園があります。
Map of Osaka castle
With Osaka located in the middle, there's a very big park surrounding it.

以下は大阪城周りの公園の景色です The following shows the scenery of the park surrounding Osaka castle.
大阪城のウェブサイトによると、その公園に600本の桜樹と 95種類のアプリコットと様々な花がありますよ。 According to the website of Osaka castle, there are more than 600 Sakura trees, more than 95 types of Apricot planted in the park. On top of the above, you can also find a large variety of flowers planted in the park too.

大阪城の城郭（内堀と外堀） 大阪城の城郭に一番大きな石は蛸石です。 その石の面積は59.4m²、厚さは90cm、重さは約130トンと推定されます。 Osaka Castle Walls(Inner and Outer walls) The biggest rock that was used to built the walls of Osaka was known as 'Takoishi', or Octopus Rock. The are of the rock is 59.4m², with a thickness of 90cm and a heavy weight of 130 tons.

以下はいろいろな角度の大阪城です。 Various camera angles of Osaka castle
日本三名城は大阪城と名古屋城と熊本城です。 The 3 infamous castle of Japan would be Osaka castle, Nagoya castle and Kumamoto castle.

大阪城内 Inside Osaka castle

戦国武将の兜を、陣羽織と共に試着して、写真撮影をしています。
You can try on a helmet, surcoat and kosode kimono, belonging to the
warriors of the 'Sengoku period' and have your photograph taken.

大阪城の展示を通して、大阪城の様々な資料と。。。
Through the exhibitions in the castle, you can learn more about
the history of the Osaka castle...

豊臣秀吉の様々な資料を習います。
and the founder of this castle, 'Toyotomi Hideyoshi'.

その上、 On top of that,

大阪城の天守閣を行って、大阪市の景色を観賞できます。 戦国の大名見たいです。わはははは～～～ You can also gain access to the Osaka castle tower and catch a good view of the surroundings. I felt like a warlord of the 'sengoku period' when I was in the tower. Wahahahahahahaha~~~~~~

* こちは「大阪城」の観光資料です。
^ こちは僕が「大阪城」に撮るの写真です。
* Click here to find out more about 'Osaka Castle'.
^ Click here for the photos of 'Osaka Castle' that was taken by me.