天守閣(てんしゅかく)

てんしゅかく
noun
castle tower; keep; main tower of a Japanese castle
1. castle tower; keep; main tower of a Japanese castle
The central, tallest tower of a Japanese castle, serving as both a symbol of the lord's power and a final defensive stronghold. A defining feature of Japanese castle architecture.
天守閣(てんしゅかく)から町(まち)を見下(みお)ろした。
I looked down at the town from the castle tower.
姫路城(ひめじじょう)の天守閣(てんしゅかく)は国宝(こくほう)に指定(してい)されている。
The keep of Himeji Castle is designated as a national treasure.
戦争(せんそう)で焼(や)けた天守閣(てんしゅかく)が、コンクリートで再建(さいけん)された城(しろ)も多(おお)い。
There are many castles whose towers were destroyed in war and rebuilt in concrete.

USAGE:
Of Japan's many castles, only twelve retain their original wooden 天守閣(てんしゅかく), known as 現存天守(げんぞんてんしゅ). The most famous include 姫路城(ひめじじょう), 松本城(まつもとじょう), and 犬山城(いぬやまじょう). Many others have been rebuilt in modern materials.

The shorter form 天守(てんしゅ) is used interchangeably in many contexts, though 天守閣(てんしゅかく) is more common in everyday speech.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 天守閣(てんしゅかく)に登(のぼ)る (to climb the castle tower)
  • 天守閣(てんしゅかく)を再建(さいけん)する (to rebuild the castle tower)
  • 現存(げんぞん)天守(てんしゅ) (original surviving keep)
  • 天守閣(てんしゅかく)からの眺(なが)め (view from the castle tower)
general
Added 2026.3.18 11:00
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