Chidori Castle, Matsue

This is the Chidori Castle in Matsue, named so because it resembles the bird chidori in coloration. It is one of the 13 remaining samurai castles in Japan and it's regarded as a national treasure. The stairs to the top of the castle resemble ladders. They had latches on the back so that they could be lowered and lifted like drawbridges. This is so if the castle were under siege, the residents could climb up the stairs and lift them up and secure them so the enemy could not get to them.