Recently it has become known for having the look and feel of a Japanese castle town.

There are many buildings still remaining of both the post and castle town today.

The castle town was established on the northern side, facing the sea.

Six young girls who live in a castle town want to explore life outside their sheltered world.

Each of these was given to a senior retainer who ran it as his own small castle town.

The ancient capital, and the castle town, were at Tottori city.

Hardest hit have been regional areas built around one type of industry - what the Japanese call "castle towns."

Claiming the land for himself, he laid out what was to become the town of New Castle.

It is the oldest known building in the town of New Castle, dating to 1753.

Like the castle towns of old, the market is a small city unto itself, with inner and outer areas.