Azuchi Castle History . Unlike earlier castles and fortresses , Azuchi was not intended to be solely a military structure , cold , dark , and foreboding . Nobunaga intended it as a lavish mansion , which would impress and intimidate his rivals , not only with its defenses , but with its lavish apartments and decorations , and flourishing town and religious life . The keep , called " tenshukaku " ( or " tenshu " ) , rather than being the center of the castle ' s defences , was a seven - story building containing audience halls , private chambers , offices , and a treasury , as though it were a royal palace . In addition to being one of the first Japanese castles with a tower keep , Azuchi was unique in that its uppermost story was octagonal . In addition , the facade of Azuchi , unlike the solid white or black of other castles , was colorfully decorated with tigers and dragons . There were five main militaristic features of Azuchi Castle that differentiated it from earlier castle designs . Firstly , it was a massive structure , with the walls of the castle ranging from 18 feet to 21 feet in thickness . The second feature of Azuchi Castle is the predominant use of stone . The walls were constructed from huge granite stones fitted carefully together without the use of mortar . A third innovation of the Azuchi Castle was the high central tower , or " donjon " . The tower allowed for increased visibility for the use of guns against an opposing force . Builder ’ s plans for the castle show the donjon to be 138 feet tall , with seven levels . Fourthly , Azuchi Castle had irregularly formed inner citadels . These inner citadels gave defenders ample defensive positions against intruders . The location of Azuchi Castle was also a novel feature . Whereas most Japanese castles found the most advantegous position was at the base of mountain surrounded by dense vegetation ( which would allow cover for an enemy ) , Azuchi Castle was built on a plain to give a wide view of an approaching enemy . Nobunaga desired a full castle town , and built well - defended homes for his generals , a Jōdo - shū Buddhist temple called Jōgon - in , and a number of homes for commoners a short distance away on the shore of the lake . However , he had trouble convincing people to move into these homes at first . In the summer of 1577 , he issued a municipal charter , guaranteeing residents immunity from taxes , building or transport levies , and moratoria , and forced all travelers on the Nakasendō highway to stop in the town overnight for lodging , thus bringing business to his town ' s innkeepers . By 1582 , the town ' s inhabitants numbered roughly 5 , 000 . In addition to welcoming many of Nobunaga ' s powerful political guests , such as Tokugawa Ieyasu and Niwa Nagahide , Azuchi castle also hosted an event in 1579 which has come to be known as the Azuchi religious debate ( 安土宗論 , " Azuchi shūron " ) , taking place between leaders of the Nichiren and Jōdo - shū sects of Buddhism . In the summer of 1582 , just after Nobunaga ' s death at Honnō - ji , the castle was attacked by the forces of Akechi Mitsuhide , Nobunaga ' s betrayer . The castle was set aflame , though some accounts claim this might have been the work of looting townspeople , or of one of Nobunaga ' s sons . Mitsuhide , therefore , never managed to occupy the castle . The Azuchi - Momoyama Period of Japanese history takes its name , in part , from this castle . Architecture and Design . In 1976 , the Japanese architectural historian Naitō Akira published what he believed to be a conclusive summary of the features of Azuchi Castle , George Elison in The Cross and the Sword translated and shortened Naitō ' s description as follows : " The tower was a colossal structure , which soared some 138 feet into the air from the top of a hill , which itself rose 360 feet above the waters of an inlet of Lake Biwa . It had seven internal levels , although from the outside only five were apparent . The interior had some unexpected , unprecedented and unique features . The centre of the structure rose without a ceiling , up to level of the fifth floor , almost 62 feet from the ground . A stage for theatrical performances , which projected into this design , has caused professor Naitō to speculate on some possible European influence , derived from the Jesuits ( whose churches , such as the exact contemporary , the Gesù in Rome , are noted for their spectacular vaults " However , the external design of Azuchi Castle is still debated , another Japanese Architectural Historian , Miyakami Shigetaka , has accused Professor Naitō Akira of failing to corroborate enough documentation to come to the conclusion he did . All that remains of the castle today is the stone base . However , an approximate reproduction of Azuchi , based on illustrations and historical descriptions , stands in Ise Sengoku Village , a samurai theme park near Ise . In addition , an full - scale replica of the top floors of the donjon is on display at the Nobunaga no Yakata Museum near the original castle ruins . Contemporary Media . In the Samurai Warriors / Warriors Orochi franchise , Azuchi Castle was termed by Naoe Kanetsugu as " one of the most impregnable and powerful castle " in the Sengoku Period though as he metaphorically termed the castle to have " lack of justice " due to being controlled by Oda Nobunaga