This is the oldest extant map of Bizen province. Judging by the old and pictorial drawing style, we assume that the map was produced during the Keicho era (1596–1615). However, it is not clear whether or not this map was produced by order of the Shogunate government. The town around Okayama Castle is depicted on both sides of a river. While the west side of the river, marked by the castle tower and moats, is represented with considerable accuracy, the east side of the river is presented as far more magnificent than the actual town of the time. The pictorial representation of Shimotsui Castle, Kanagawa Castle, and Hattoji Temple is outstanding.

　This drawing is known as Kan’ei-kozu, or an old map produced during the Kan’ei era (1624–44). The map was probably produced sometime around 1638 together with the Bicchu provincial map. Villages are marked in different colors in accordance with the districts they belong to. In addition, different colors are used to indicate territories of the respective districts. District borders are shown in gold paint, as are the Chinese characters appearing in dark blue sections. This is the most colorful and sumptuous map, unrivaled by any in the Ikeda Family Collection.

　This is a copy of the Bizen provincial map that Okayama domain produced by order of the Shogunate government during the Genroku era (1688–1704) and submitted to the government. The title “Matsudaira Iyo-no-kami,” which appears on the map, refers to Ikeda Tsunamasa, the lord of Okayama domain. The map was resubmitted to the government in 1703 after the settlement of the territorial dispute over Ishima island. The map, however, bears the date of the first submission.

　The original map of Bicchu province was produced by the Ando family of Matsuyama domain with the assistance of the Kinoshita family of Ashimori domain. The titles “Ando Nagato-no-kami” and “Kinoshita Higo-no-kami,” both of which appear in the legend, respectively refer to Ando Nobutomo and Kinoshita Kinsada. This copy, produced by Okayama domain, is a more simplified version compared to the copy of the Bizen provincial map.

　The names of domain lords and their annual stipends are stipulated in the margin of this map of Bicchu province, which has the same style as T1-14. Since this list of domain lords includes Yamazaki Kai-no-kami Sakichi, the map was probably produced sometime around 1638, when Yamazaki Ieharu was transferred to Nariwa domain (in Bicchu province), being replaced by Mizunoya Katsutaka as the domain lord.

　This map was produced at the time of the transfer of Tsuyama Castle. On the verso side, the characters “ロ三” (ro-3) are written in vermilion ink. The map comprises a series with map T3-14. Using lines and marks, the map indicates the stations of officials responsible for taking possession of the castle, including Tamura Ukyonodaibu Tadaaki (representative of the Shogunate government), Matsudaira Wakasa-no-kami Naoaki of Akashi domain and Sakai Yukie Tadasono of Obama domain (both assigned to receive the castle), and Asano Iori and Oki Gondayu (retainers of Matsudaira Aki-no-kami Tsunanaga of Hiroshima domain, who was responsible for the upkeep of the castle). Residences of the vassals of Tsuyama domain were used to accommodate the supervisor and other officials sent by order of the Shogunate government. Their names are indicated on the slips of paper that are pasted onto the corresponding locations.

　This map shows details concerning the transfer of Ako Castle in 1701. On the slips of paper information is provided in vermilion ink, including the routes to the castle from Yagiyama and Mitsuishi in Okayama domain. This information was provided by warriors sent to Ako from Okayama domain. The vermilion lines show the routes taken by the troop of Lord Wakisaka of Tatsuno domain, who was responsible for receiving the castle. Vermilion triangles indicate the locations of guard stations in the castle town. It is noteworthy that the baileys of the castle are drawn in the style of a tactical map.

　This map was produced at the time of the transfer of Fukuyama Castle after the Mizuno clan died out. The officials responsible for taking possession of the castle were Aoyama Harima-no-kami Yoshimasa (representative of the Shogunate government), Matsudaira Suruga-no-kami Sadanobu and Asano Tosa-no-kami Nagasumi (assigned to receive the castle), and Kyogoku Nui Takamochi (responsible for the upkeep of the castle). The map shows the route they took and the locations of stations of officials. This map, a copy of the map contained in material C8-213, has fewer slips attached to it than the original map.

　This drawing shows a bird’s eye view of the Honmaru Bailey on the top of Mt. Gagyusan.

　This map of Matsuyama Castle Town uses different colors to distinguish the residential area for warriors from that of townsfolk, as well as a temple zone.

　This rough map shows Tottori Castle and its castle town during the latter half of the Edo Period. To the south of the Fukuro River there are several second residences of leading vassals and the residences borrowed from the domain. Toshogu Shrine in Ojidani is depicted with particular magnificence.

　The castle tower was constructed in 1597 by Ukita Hideie. Although many castle towers were demolished by governmental order in the Meiji Period, this castle survived and was designated a National Treasure. On June 29, 1945, however, it was destroyed by the air raid on Okayama. Standing on a roughly pentagonal mound, the castle tower had three roofs but was actually a six-storied structure, with six floors inside. Its appearance differed greatly depending on the direction from which it was viewed. The top floor comprised a square of 3 gen (approx. 5.4 m), equivalent to the size of the highest floor of Azuchi Castle. These charts help visualize the original state of the destroyed castle tower since they clearly indicate detailed dimensions of beams, longitudinal tie beams, pillars, gables, and other building components.

　This map of the castle was submitted to the Shogunate government, together with the province map of the Shoho era (1644–48). The map provides detailed information on the castle, including the size of the castle tower, locations of turrets and gates in the respective baileys, the land areas of the respective baileys, the height of stone walls, and the width and depth of moats. The map also shows the castle town lying outside the castle. The residential area for warriors is distinguished from that for townsfolk and a temple district, and the distance of roads is indicated. The map also represents a mausoleum of the second Shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada, on a sandbank (known as Ohanabatake) in the Asahi River. Only in the Shoho era (1644–48), when this map was submitted, did the Shogunate government order the respective domains to furnish maps of their castles, probably because the government considered it essential to collect military information.

　This is one of the maps contained in an envelope on which it is written: “Maps of San’yodo Castles for Master Nariteru.” On the verso side of the map it is written: “A map of Aki Hiroshima Castle.” The Chinese character “顕” (ken) is written on the verso side. As cartographers of this map, eight people are specified, including Fuchimoto Kazunobu. Although the map shows the residences of vassals and temples, the residential area for townsfolk is not clearly identified by color. Although it seems that the map was produced based on the material of the Hiroshima domain, the background to its production is unknown. The map is designed with a west orientation.

　This rough map of Shimoizushi town, showing the layout of the residential zones for townsfolk, was produced by Sunabaya Jirokichi, a resident of the town. The map shows townsfolk’s houses built on deep and narrow lots arranged along streets, and a number of timber shops and carpenters’ workshops lining the Asahi River.

　When Ikeda Mitsumasa moved into Okayama Castle as its lord in 1632, he used this map, which shows the state of the castle town during the reign of Ikeda Tadakatsu. Studying the land lots that Tadakatsu had allocated to his retainers, Mitsumasa allocated the land lots to his own retainers and pasted slips of paper bearing their names next to the names of Tadakatsu’s retainers on the map. Although the residential zone for warriors is filled with names of his vassals, other districts in the town have only simple notations, such as “town” or “temple.” This suggests that districts for townsfolk and temples had not yet been developed at that time.

　This pictorial map shows the state of Korakuen Garden at the end of the Edo Period. After its construction in the Genroku era (1688–1704), the garden underwent frequent relandscaping. This map, however, shows that at the end of the Edo Period, the garden was very similar to its present state, with the grassy area in the center, Sawa-no-ike pond, and the artificial hill called Yuishin-zan standing by the pond. To the south of the pond, rice fields and a tea plantation are depicted, as they are at present. A wide variety of plants are vividly illustrated in various colors. Since many gardeners and warriors responsible for the garden management lived inside the garden, their houses are also depicted.

　This 1:200-scale pictorial map represents the state of the garden in the 11th month of the eighth year of the Meiwa era (1771). The map shows changes in the landscaping by order of the lord of Okayama domain (Ikeda Harumasa). For example, the rice field previously located to the south of the pond was converted into a grass field. An explanation is given about these changes on slips of paper. The map shows the autumnal landscape, highlighted by the crimson maple foliage. Although this map comprised 71 separate sheets of paper, we have combined them into a single sheet.

　This large square map of the world was produced by Sato Masayasu. The title, which is inscribed on the cover and the box, reads: “New Version of Official Map of the World.” Sato Masayasu was a warrior of Shonai domain in Dewa province. After having studied under Katsu Kaishu, he served at the Naval Training Center of the Shogunate government as a translator of the Dutch language. As part of his official service, he produced this map by translating a Dutch map of the world. The map provides detailed information about the world’s oceans and international navigation routes. In the top margin, there is a Japanese national flag represented in a frame. In the margin in all directions, national flags of various countries are represented. In the margin below the map, various types of geographical information are provided, including the land area and population of various countries. Words by Katsu Yoshikuni (Kaishu) were written in the 11th month of the first year of the Bunkyu era (1861). The map was published by Yorozuya Heishiro of Tatekawa Sannohashi Rosokan Publishing Company in Edo.

　This large multicolor woodblock print map of the region north of Japan was produced by Fujita Ryo (Junsai). Although the map is based on the survey map of Ezo prepared by the Shogunate government during the early 19th century, a pictorial style is adopted, particularly for mountains, which adds artistic value to the map. Although latitude and longitude lines are drawn, they are not very precise. It was produced in the 10th month of the sixth year of the Kaei era (1853), that is, before the conclusion of the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between Japan and Russia. The publisher was Harimaya Katsugoro, a wholesaler of books at Jikkendana, Nihonbashi street in Edo.

　This is a copy of the Map of Eight Provinces in Korea produced by Tsushima domain. The title on the paper wrapping the map reads: “Taiyokanzo Utsushi Chosen Chizu” (copy of the map of Korea, owned by Tsushima domain). The Ikeda Family Collection has two maps of this kind. Different colors are used to represent individual provinces with major highways shown in vermilion lines. Next to the names of major cities, the map shows the number of days necessary to travel from there to Seoul. Although many Korean maps produced in the country during the same period include the Tsushima islands, this map does not show the Tsushima islands. Instead, it shows Taikan (also known as Wakan, the diplomatic office of Tsushima domain) in Busan.

　This map shows the Shimabara peninsula and the peripheral region. In the margin, a slip of paper indicating that it is a copy of the map offered to the Shogun is attached. This leads to either of the following conclusions: First, this map is a copy of the map prepared by warriors sent by Ikeda Mitsumasa and offered to the Shogun; or, second, this is a copy of the map offered to Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third Shogun, by another party, and the Shogun permitted Ikeda Mitsumasa to reproduce the map. On the map, Hara Castle, where rebels assembled, is represented as the “south abandoned castle of the Arima clan.” At Oyana island in Amakusa, there is a note saying that the Christian rebellion broke out in the territory of Lord Terasawa.

　This map shows the deployment of forces ready to attack Hara Castle. On the verso side of the rightmost end of the paper, a slip of paper is attached saying: “Map of the Battlefield at Hizen Shimabara” and “In the custody of the former storage room.” The map shows various military structures, including mounds, provisional watchtowers, fences, and trenches. The vermilion line indicates the route taken to the castle for the final attack. It is probable that the black ship anchored off the coast is a Dutch ship. Although it is not said, we assume that the map was produced based on the report of warriors sent by Ikeda Mitsumasa.