Animated Pictograms

Fun and easy-to-understand presentation of historical culture and traditional customs that are uniquely Japanese.

  • VISIT TO TEMPLE / SHIRINE
  • BOWING
  • POUNDING RICE CAKE
  • HAILING A CAB / TAXI
  • TAKING A BATH
  • WATER ABLUTION
  • TEA CEREMONY
  • RHYTHMIC CLAPPING AT CELEBRATIONS
  • RIDING THE TRAIN
  • WINNING MOVES IN SUMŌ
  • AWA DANCE FESTIVAL
  • Coming Soon

About The Project

EXPERIENCE JAPAN PICTOGRAMS were developed to provide visual support for tourists in Japan.
For more information about the objectives and design concept of the project, please click here.

Request

If you would like us to create new PICTOGRAMS for you or have other requests, please contact us here.

MATSUMOTO CASTLE

松本城[MATSUMOTO-JŌ]

One of Japan’s premier historic castles, located in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture in central Japan. Of the 12 remaining original castle keeps (tenshukaku) in Japan, only those of Matsumoto and Himeji castles have five stories. Matsumoto Castle’s dignified appearance with its black lacquer is well known among Westerners and received three stars in the Michelin Guide. Tatsumi Tsukeyagura (southern wing) and Tsukimi Yagura (moon viewing tower) were added after a period of peace was maintained. Matsumoto Castle is best characterized by the combination and linking of different structures built in different periods. Tsukimi Yagura was built in 1634 to welcome the then Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu on his way back from a pilgrimage to Kyoto. However, despite these efforts to please the ambitious lord, Iemitsu ended up never coming to Matsumoto due to an accident—an unfortunate tragedy.