Kakegawa Castle Palace

Overlooked by the castle on its hill, the palace was built within its grounds as the lord's official residence. After the feudal era ended, it was used variously by a girls' school, the fire station and the city office, before being restored and opened to visitors.

There's little English information, but it's very pleasant to pad around the tatami-floored rooms, elegantly decorated with wooden carvings, screen doors and alcoves for hanging scrolls. There are also displays of weapons, armour and other artefacts, and cute dioramas showing what I suppose are scenes from the castle's history.

Tickets for the castle keep and palace together cost ¥410 for adults, ¥150 for children between 6 and 15 years old.