Castles in Japan

Castles across Japan, including Matsusaka Castle and Hikone Castle, offer a glimpse into the nation's past. Many are found in Mie, Hyōgo, Chiba, and Okinawa prefectures, providing diverse historical experiences.

Matsusaka Castle

Matsusaka Castle

Explore Matsusaka Castle ruins, a historic site with impressive stone walls and scenic park view...

Hikone Castle

Hikone Castle

SHIGA · CASTLE

Hikone Castle is a well-preserved castle with strategic significance, worth visiting for its his...

Kōchi Castle

Kōchi Castle

KōCHI · CASTLE

Visit Kochi Castle to explore one of Japan's twelve original castles, rebuilt after a fire.

Nagahama Castle

Nagahama Castle

SHIGA · CASTLE

Explore a reconstructed castle keep and museum, once home to Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Nakagusuku Castle

Nakagusuku Castle

OKINAWA · CASTLE

Explore Nakagusuku Castle, a well-preserved 15th-century Okinawan castle ruin and UNESCO World H...

Nijō Castle

Nijō Castle

KYOTO · CASTLE

Explore a shogun's castle, a UNESCO site with stunning gardens and historic palace buildings.

Odawara Castle

Odawara Castle

KANAGAWA · CASTLE

Odawara Castle is a historic Japanese castle with a rebuilt keep and impressive moats.

Okazaki Castle

Okazaki Castle

AICHI · CASTLE

Explore Okazaki Castle, birthplace of Tokugawa Ieyasu, a reconstructed castle with historical si...

Okayama Castle

Okayama Castle

OKAYAMA · CASTLE

Okayama Castle, a historic black-lacquered landmark, offers a glimpse into Japan's feudal past.

Hinoe Castle

Hinoe Castle

NAGASAKI · CASTLE

Hinoe Castle is a historic Japanese castle ruin, offering a glimpse into medieval samurai life.

Kushima Castle

Kushima Castle

NAGASAKI · CASTLE

Explore historic castle ruins, a unique sea moat, and a top cherry blossom park.

Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle

Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle

HIROSHIMA · CASTLE

Explore a mountaintop castle ruin, once home to the Mōri clan, with over 270 enclosures.

Sunomata Castle

Sunomata Castle

Sunomata Castle is a historical park with a museum and shrine, marking a strategic 16th-century...

Ōzu Castle

Ōzu Castle

EHIME · CASTLE

Ōzu Castle offers a reconstructed wooden keep and historic turrets, a scenic stop for castle ent...

Kameyama Castle

Kameyama Castle

KYOTO · CASTLE

Explore Kameyama Castle ruins, a historic site with a unique modern religious connection.

Takayama Castle

Takayama Castle

Explore historic castle ruins with impressive stone walls and earthworks in a scenic mountain se...

Shiroishi Castle

Shiroishi Castle

MIYAGI · CASTLE

Explore a faithful wooden reconstruction of a historic castle with a unique past.

Kanayama Castle

Kanayama Castle

GUNMA · CASTLE

Explore a mountaintop castle ruin with panoramic views and historical significance near Ota.

Sunpu Castle

Sunpu Castle

SHIZUOKA · CASTLE

Explore Sunpu Castle Park, the site of Tokugawa Ieyasu's residence, for its historical significa...

Gassantoda Castle

Gassantoda Castle

SHIMANE · CASTLE

This mountain castle, once an impregnable fortress, offers stone walls and views from its histor...

Shibata Castle

Shibata Castle

NIIGATA · CASTLE

Shibata Castle is a rare castle ruin with original structures, famous for cherry blossoms.

Obukumayama Kōgoishi

Obukumayama Kōgoishi

Explore an ancient mountain castle with extensive stone rows, a national historic site.

Ki Castle

Ki Castle

OKAYAMA · CASTLE

Explore Ki Castle, an ancient mountain fortress with restored walls and gates, offering a glimps...

Hagi Castle

Hagi Castle

YAMAGUCHI · CASTLE

Explore Hagi Castle ruins, a National Historic Site and World Heritage component, for its histor...

Kagoshima Castle

Kagoshima Castle

KAGOSHIMA · CASTLE

Kagoshima Castle, a historic site with reconstructed gates and moats, offers a glimpse into samu...

Suko Castle

Suko Castle

Explore the ruins of Suko Castle, once Saga Prefecture's largest and most impregnable fortress.

Takamatsu Castle

Takamatsu Castle

OKAYAMA · CASTLE

Takamatsu Castle is a historic flatland castle ruin, famous for a 1582 water attack.

Saga Castle

Saga Castle

Explore a unique Edo-period flatland castle with wide moats and important historical gates.

Imabari Castle

Imabari Castle

EHIME · CASTLE

Imabari Castle is a reconstructed water castle, notable for its unique seawater moats.

Fukuyama Castle

Fukuyama Castle

HIROSHIMA · CASTLE

Fukuyama Castle is a reconstructed 17th-century castle, a National Historic Site worth visiting...

Karatsu Castle

Karatsu Castle

Karatsu Castle: a reconstructed castle with historical grounds and views, easily accessible from...

Kawagoe Castle

Kawagoe Castle

SAITAMA · CASTLE

Explore Kawagoe Castle, a historic hirayamajiro with a preserved palace, significant in the Edo...

Fukui Castle

Fukui Castle

FUKUI · CASTLE

Explore Fukui Castle's historic stone walls and moat, a significant site for samurai history.

Tottori Castle

Tottori Castle

TOTTORI · CASTLE

Explore Tottori Castle ruins, a National Historic Site with a rich past and impressive stone rem...

Kōriyama Castle

Kōriyama Castle

Explore Kōriyama Castle ruins, a National Historic Site, famous for its cherry blossoms and uniq...

Oshi Castle

Oshi Castle

SAITAMA · CASTLE

Oshi Castle is a reconstructed 'floating castle' with a history of never being captured.

Kaneishi Castle

Kaneishi Castle

NAGASAKI · CASTLE

Kaneishi Castle, a former So family residence, is worth visiting for its restored garden and his...

Kariya Castle

Kariya Castle

AICHI · CASTLE

Explore Kamejo Park, site of Kariya Castle, for history and a modern museum.

Katsuyama Castle

Katsuyama Castle

OKAYAMA · CASTLE

A historic castle site in Okayama Prefecture, notable for its strategic river defense.

Katsuyama Castle

Katsuyama Castle

FUKUI · CASTLE

Explore the ruins of Katsuyama Castle, a historic site with a rich past.

Kōkokuji Castle

Kōkokuji Castle

SHIZUOKA · CASTLE

Explore Kōkokuji Castle ruins, a National Historic Site with a shrine, offering a glimpse into J...

Kunohe Castle

Kunohe Castle

IWATE · CASTLE

Explore Kunohe Castle, a National Historic Site with Tohoku's oldest stone wall, for a glimpse i...

Kuwana Castle

Kuwana Castle

Explore Kuwana Castle ruins, a historic water castle site with restored turret and river views.

Tanabe Castle

Tanabe Castle

KYOTO · CASTLE

Visit Tanabe Castle for reconstructed gate, stone wall, and a museum detailing its history and s...

Tanabe Castle

Tanabe Castle

WAKAYAMA · CASTLE

Explore the remnants of Tanabe Castle, a historic site with stone walls and a unique sluice gate...

Tamon'yama Castle

Tamon'yama Castle

Explore the remains of a 16th-century mountaintop castle with strategic views.

Tatsuno Castle

Tatsuno Castle

HYōGO · CASTLE

Tatsuno Castle: a reconstructed Edo-period jinya-style fortress with original stone walls.

Tatsuoka Castle

Tatsuoka Castle

NAGANO · CASTLE

Tatsuoka Castle is a rare star-shaped Edo-period fortress, a nationally designated historic site...

Takada Castle

Takada Castle

NIIGATA · CASTLE

Takada Castle, a historic flatland castle, offers a glimpse into early Edo period samurai reside...

Takashima Castle

Takashima Castle

NAGANO · CASTLE

Takashima Castle, a rare lake castle, offers a glimpse into Edo period engineering and history.

Tahara Castle

Tahara Castle

AICHI · CASTLE

Explore Tahara Castle ruins, a historic site with a unique moat shape and museum, for a glimpse...

Sannohe Castle

Sannohe Castle

AOMORI · CASTLE

Explore extensive castle ruins, a museum, and park at this historic site.

Nakatsu Castle

Nakatsu Castle

ŌITA · CASTLE

Nakatsu Castle is a historic water castle with Kyushu's oldest stone walls and a family museum.

Gassanhiwa Castle

Gassanhiwa Castle

MIYAZAKI · CASTLE

Explore the ruins of a mountain castle and its history at the local museum.

Izena Castle

Izena Castle

OKINAWA · CASTLE

Explore a historic Okinawan castle ruin with royal connections and archaeological finds.

Maebashi Castle

Maebashi Castle

GUNMA · CASTLE

A historic flatland castle site featuring surviving stone walls and moats, now home to the Gunma...

Nagurumi Castle

Nagurumi Castle

GUNMA · CASTLE

Explore Nagurumi Castle ruins, a historic site with well-preserved structures and a dramatic pas...

Sakamoto Castle

Sakamoto Castle

SHIGA · CASTLE

Explore the remains of a 16th-century water castle built by Akechi Mitsuhide on Lake Biwa.

Ina Castle

Ina Castle

AICHI · CASTLE

Explore Ina Castle ruins, a historic site and birthplace of the Tokugawa family crest.

Chatan Castle

Chatan Castle

OKINAWA · CASTLE

Explore the large ruins of a historic Okinawan castle, recently returned to Japan.

Castles by prefecture, written up

Other types

See everything by prefecture and type