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.
