Nango moat settlement| Nangokango Shuraku [Koryo-cho, Nara Prefecture]

In the Sengoku Period (literally ‘Warring States Period’ 15th - 16th century), there wasn’t a powerful ruler in Yamato, and burglaries and banditry were rife. Villagers, to protect themselves, built moats around their villages. There were many such village communities in Yamato; they were known by place names such as gaito or ōgaito. The area around the moat which still exists to the south of Kōryō-chō has been regenerated with beautiful landscaping - cherry trees planted and wisteria trellises constructed, a taiko arched bridge, and replica gaslights which give the area a romantic atmosphere as one walks around.