Matsumae Castle is the only castle known as a historical symbol of Hokkaido, and its background is deeply connected to the turmoil of the end of the Edo period and the need for national defense. Construction of Matsumae Castle began in 1849 and was completed in 1854 by order of the Tokugawa Shogunate. At the time, foreign ships were approaching Japan on an increasing scale, and strengthening the defense of the Hokkaido region was an urgent task, so the Matsumae Domain was tasked with this task. This castle not only served as a defensive facility, but also as a political and cultural base. The architecture of Matsumae Castle was strategically designed while incorporating traditional Japanese castle architectural styles, and was particularly designed to prevent enemy invasions. Today, Matsumae Castle remains as a reconstructed castle tower, and its interior is used as a museum. The museum displays valuable documents from the time of the castle's construction and exhibits related to the Matsumae Domain, allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the political background of the time and the history of the region. By visiting Matsumae Castle, you can learn about the challenges Japan faced at the end of the Edo period and the role of the Matsumae Domain in them.