during which the trees are lit up in the evenings by over 300 paper lanterns. Description Sitting atop a 6.2-metre (20 ft 4 in) high stone platform set among Japanese black pine and cherry trees, access to the tenshu is via a long staircase leading directly into its black wooden interior. The tenshu has three floors, with uppermost serving as a watchtower. The tenshu has a number of unique design features. While the roof originally had wood shingles at some stage these were replaced with roof tiles made from a local stone called shakudani. These stone tiles mean the roof is unusually heavy with a weight of 60 tons which is more than double the weight of a normal tile-roofed or wooden shingle roof. In Japanese. Other sources quote a weight of 120 tons. The reason for using stone tiles believed to have been because they provided superior thermal insulation during the winter. The roof also features stone shachihako (fish/tiger) ornaments. The right-hand side of the tenshu has a series of protruding ishiotoshimado (stone-dropping windows) that allowed defenders to shoot at enemies via timber slats and also via a trap door to drop stones or pour oil or boiling water on attackers underneath. The tenshu also has a hidden floor not apparent from the exterior, but in general both the size of the tenshu and its interior are very similar to that of contemporary Inuyama Castle. References Further reading Ikeda, Koichi: Maruoka-jo in: Miura, Masayuki (Hrsg.): Shiro to jinya. Tokoku-hen. Gakken, 2006. External links Japan Castle JNTO site Maruoka Castle. This guide includes information on how to access the castle Maruoka Castle National Treasure Promotion Project). The city of Sakai’s official website for the castle. 平成29年度丸岡城調査研究事業成果報告 (2017 Maruoka Castle Research Project Results Report). 丸岡城学術調査成果の概要 (Summary of Maruoka Castle Academic Survey Results). 100 Fine Castles of Japan Castles in Fukui Prefecture Museums in Fukui Prefecture History museums in Japan Parks and gardens in Fukui Prefecture Sakai, Fukui Echizen Province Shibata clan Honda clan Arima clan