Japan's Top Castles

55 results

Activities

Discover Shikoku in Six Days

Ignatius Koh

Being Japan's smallest island, Shikoku isn't the first place most first-time or even second-time travellers would cons..

Ehime 2 5

Culture

World Heritage Nakijin Castle

Bonson Lam

We still don't know who constructed Nakijin, though the excavations show that it was started in the 13th century. The fact that..

Okinawa 2

Culture

Fukuoka Castle Ruins

Jaime Wong

Introduction to the ruins of Fukuoka Castle

Fukuoka 1

Culture

Fun in Okayama

Rey Waters

Exploring Okayama Castle and Korakuen Garden

Okayama

Culture

The Splendour Falls On Castle Walls

Arlene Bastion

A castle that has kept much of its original shape and components, Matsuyama Castle still reigns among the most impressive of Japan's..

Ehime

Culture

Kanazawa Castle Park

Anna van Dyk

Kanazawa Castle and Castle Gardens are a gem in the city's sights. Although the original buildings may no longer exist, their..

Ishikawa

Culture

Iwamura: The Misty Castle Town

Bridget Ye

Iwamura, the ancient castle town located in the countryside of Ena District, is one of the finest representations of Japan’s e..

Gifu 34

Culture

Fukuyama Castle

Jason Williamson

Take a trip back in time as you explore the artifacts at Fukuyama Castle and its surrounding ruins.

Hiroshima 1 3

Culture

Discovering Obi Castle in Miyazaki

Featured

The Obi Castle Ruins sit at the northern edge of the quaint, rural town of Obi in Nichinan, Miyazaki.

Miyazaki 4

12

Culture

Ako: Castle of the 47 Samurai

Sandra Isaka

Ako Castle, completed in 1648, is known for its association with the feudal lord, Naganori Asano, whose death was avenged by 47..

Hyogo 2

Culture

Nihonmatsu Castle Ruins & Gardens

Sarah Chaney

Nihonmatsu Castle in Fukushima Prefecture is a beautiful garden incorporated into castle ruins, with trails leading past ponds,..

Fukushima 2 3

Culture

Matsumae Castle

Mandy Bartok

Matsumae Castle was the northernmost Japanese castle in the Edo Period and the only one to be constructed on Hokkaido.

Hokkaido 3

Culture

Takatori Castle Ruins in Nara

Bryan Baier

Nara's Takatori Castle Ruins, Japan's largest mountain castle, is both a fantasy world realized and a spectacular Japanese..

Nara

8

Culture

Autumn at Komoro Castle Ruins

Mandy Bartok

The Komoro Castle Ruins near Ueda in Nagano prefecture boast beautiful fall foliage from late October to early November. 

Nagano 1

Culture

A Day at Hirosaki Castle Park

Sarah Endarastya

Hirosaki Castle Park

Aomori 2

Culture

The Castles of Nagoya

Daniel Vesey

When visiting Nagoya there are two castles that you need to check out. The obvious one is the majestic Nagoya Castle but Iwasa..

Aichi 1 4

Culture

Wakayama Castle

Mandy Bartok

Wakayama Castle was Toyotomi Hideyoshi's stronghold on the Kii Peninsula and despite its reconstructed keep, it's stil..

Wakayama 2 2

Culture

Shimabara Castle

Mandy Bartok

Learn about the Shimabara peninsula's revolutionary ties to Christianity at the museum in the main keep of Shimabara Castle.

Nagasaki

Culture

Re-building Kofu Castle

Cathy Cawood

Although Kofu Castle was a ruin, authentic replicas of one of the towers and one of the gates have been built by referring to 16th..

Yamanashi 3 1

Culture

Haunted Castle in Maruoka, Fukui

Takako Sakamoto

Maruoka Castle ('Misty Castle') in Fukui has a ghost legend - a woman who became a 'human sacrifice' when they..

Fukui 1

Culture

Nagoya Castle Ruins in Saga

Tristan Scholze

Visit the ruins of Nagoya Castle (Saga Prefecture), the short-lived second-largest in Japan. Built to invade a continent, it was..

Saga 1

15

Culture

Ultimate Guide to Osaka Castle: 01

Takako Sakamoto

Ultimate Guide to Osaka Castle and Park: This is a step-by-step introduction to Osaka Castle and the spacious park surrounding it...

Osaka

Culture

Tokushima Castle and Hachisuka Clan

Takako Sakamoto

Tokushima Castle is a place that locals frequent on school field trips, to sketch scenery, or to practice Awa Dance. The castle..

Tokushima 3

Culture

Akashi Park and Akashi Castle

Mari Karahashi

Next to the modern port city, Kobe, you can find a century-old park called Akashi Park. It is a perfect spot for hanami (cherr..

Hyogo 1

Culture

Ako Castle Ruins

Kenji Chida

Ako Castle Ruins is a great place to stroll through history.

Hyogo

Culture

Trip to Matsumoto Castle

Rebecca Bourke

If you can manage to tear yourself out of the glorious onsen at KAI Matsumoto, why not check out the nearby Matsumoto castle?

Nagano 2

Culture

Hirado Castle

Mandy Bartok

Hirado castle, a modern reconstruction with 300 year old gates, stands on a hill high above the port of Hirado, where old European..

Nagasaki 1

Area

Kitanakagusuku

Tiny Kitanakagusuku Village is one of the smallest municipalities in all of Okinawa with less than 12 square kilometers of land and less than 17,000 residents. The village nevertheless boasts..

Culture

Yoshinogari Koen, Saga

Georgina Young

One of the oldest historical sites in Japan, an ancient Yayoi period village and its culture comes alive at Yoshinogari Histor..

Saga 2

Culture

Matsue Castle: A Reminder of the Past

Featured

Matsue is a traditional castle town, with one of only twelve original remaining castles nationwide as its foremost symbol.

Shimane 7 1

9

Culture

Sasayama Castle

Benjamin Stock

A few nice shots of the remains of a peaceful, rural castle in Sasayama, Hyogo.

Hyogo

9

Culture

Tamamo Park, Takamatsu

Peter Sidell

In Takamatsu in Kagawa prefecture on Japan's Shikoku island, Tamamo Park is a pleasant park, home to the ruins of Takamatsu..

Kagawa

12

Culture

Tokyo's Imperial Palace East Garden

Peter Sidell

Inside the Imperial Palace's moat, the east garden gives you a both a tranquil green space to relax beside its pond, and a lookout..

Tokyo 1 2

Culture

Aizu Wakamatsu Castle

Bryan Baier

Reconstructed 16th century castle with well preserved stone walls and stunning grounds

Fukushima 7

Culture

Goryokaku Fort of Hakodate

Katherine Moore

A Western Style Fortress but the site of battle of a very Japanese War. Visit the observation tower to best see its snowflake like..

Hokkaido

Culture

One of the Best: Kumamoto Castle

Bryan Baier

The meticulously reconstructed and refurbished Kumamoto Castle and its sprawling grounds offers visitors one of the best places..

Kumamoto

Culture

Monumental Stone Walls of Marugame Castle

Bryan Baier

An authentic 17th century castle in the heart of Marugame City. The massive 50m tall stone walls are entirely manmade and are the..

Kagawa

Culture

The Ruins of Tottori Castle

Bryan Baier

Tottori Castle Ruins are in the heart of downtown Tottori and are a great place to walk, have lunch or enjoy the sakura during the..

Tottori

Culture

Hikone Castle

Bryan Baier

One of the 12 remaining pre Edo-era castles in Japan just outside of Kyoto

Shiga 2 5

Culture

Takato Castle Ruins Park

Bryan Baier

A park with more than 1500 pink sakura trees where Takato Castle once stood. It's on the list of 100 best sakura viewing locations..

Nagano 1

Culture

The Ruins of Takeda Castle

Bryan Baier

Built in 1441 on the summit of a 1,000-foot mountain, the ruins of Takeda Castle cover an area a quarter of a mile in length and..

Hyogo 1 2

Culture

Nijo Castle: Former Imperial Residence

Katrina Webber

Built under the order of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Nijo-jo has served as the home of the Tokugawa shogun, an Imperial property, and is now..

Kyoto

Culture

Fascinated by Odawara Castle

Abby Rodriguez

Odawara Castle was built in the 15th Century and was used as the Hojo Clan residence. It soon became the largest castle in medieval..

Kanagawa 3 2

Culture

Shuri-jo Castle

Peter Sidell

A blend of Japanese and Chinese cultures, Shuri-jo castle was the seat of Ryukyuan royalty before the Okinawan islands became part..

Okinawa 3 5

Culture

Kubota Castle

Hitoshi Kawai

Honor or wealth, which would you choose? Relive the dilemma of General Satake.

Akita 16

Culture

National Treasure: Inuyama Castle

Chris Glenn

Japan's oldest remaining castle, National Treasure Inuyama Castle.

Aichi 2

Culture

Gifu Castle, Park and Ropeway

Dee Kernke

Gifu castle and Ropeway provides a marvelous view of Gifu City and the Naragarawa River from the top of Mt. Kinka. It was from this..

Gifu 3 14

Culture

Matsusaka Castle Ruins

Chris Glenn

A trip to Matsusaka wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the impressive remains of the castle and it’s famed samurai barrac..

Mie

Culture

Okazaki Castle

Chris Glenn

Okazaki Castle is the symbol of the city. Originally built in 1455 by the warrior Saigo Tsugiyori, the castle grounds are now a..

Aichi 15 1

Culture

Spectacular Views at Matsuyama Castle

Anonymous

Matsuyama Castle stands on a significant hill right in the middle of town, offering spectacular views of the city, mountains and..

Ehime

Culture

Imabari Castle by Day

Anonymous

Imabari Castle is one of the obvious landmarks of the city of Imabari. It’s a very pretty castle, surrounded by a square moat ..

Ehime 1

Culture

Iga Ueno Castle

Chris Glenn

Most foreign tourists head to the north western Mie Prefecture town to see the ninja, without even realizing the city of Iga Ueno..

Mie

Culture

Ozu Castle - An Authentic Reconstruction

Anonymous

Ozu castle stands on a hillock that extends into a bend in the river Hiji, creating the impression that the castle stands on an..

Ehime 1 3

Culture

Kochi Castle Tour and History

Nate Hill

Kochi Castle is in downtown Kochi on Otakasa Hill, and offers a great place for a lookout over the city. You can also enjoy a picnic..

Kochi

Culture

Nagashino Castle and Museum

Chris Glenn

Nagashino Castle, high on a cliff at the fork of the Ure and the Kansa Rivers, guarded the Tokugawa held Mikawa provinces from the..

Aichi 1

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