10 Castles in Aomori worth your time

Explore the ruins of a 15th-century castle, a National Historic Site with excavated artifacts.

What it is

• A Japanese castle built by the Namioka Kitabatake clan.
• Constructed in the 1460s in Aomori Prefecture.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1940.
• One of the Continued 100 Fine Castles of Japan.

What to see

• Castle site on the southern end of hills.
• Eight enclosures separated by double moats.
• Uchidate, the main enclosure, housed the lord's residence.
• Namioka River and Shoheizu River flowed below.
• Chusei no Yakata exhibits excavated artifacts.

Getting there

• Accessible by foot from Namioka Station.
• Accessible by car from Namioka IC.

Read more about Namioka Castle

Explore Fukushima Castle, a rare ancient hirayamajiro with massive earthworks and moats.

What it is

• A Japanese hirayamajiro castle, built on a plateau.
• Believed to have been built in the late 10th century.
• Excavations in 1992 confirmed it as a full-scale castle.

What to see

• Covers an area of approximately 625,000 square meters.
• The outer bailey is triangular, about 1 kilometer per side.
• The outer bailey has earthworks and an outer moat.
• The inner bailey is square, about 180 meters per side.
• Inner bailey separated by earthworks, outer moat, and inner moat.
• Eastern earthwork comparable to Dazaifu's Mizuki.

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Explore the historic grounds of a former castle, now a park and shrine, with cultural properties.

What it is

• A former Japanese castle in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture.
• Built in 1627, abolished in 1871.
• Now the site of Sanyo Shrine and Sanyo Park.

What to see

• Sanyo Shrine, founded in 1874.
• Sanyo Park on the former castle grounds.
• Hachinohe Castle Sumi-Goten Omote-mon, a cultural property.
• Former Hachinohe Castle East Gate, a city cultural property.
• Restoration model of the castle palace at Hachinohe City Museum.

Read more about Hachinohe Castle

Horikoshi Castle: a National Historic Site with unique pentagonal keep ruins, offering a glimpse into feudal Japan.

What it is

• A Japanese flatland castle, now a National Historic Site.
• Founded in 1594 as residence for the Tsugaru clan.
• Abandoned in 1615 after 17 years of use.
• Castle ruins are now the site of Kumano Shrine.

What to see

• Remains of a pentagonal main keep.
• Earthworks about 3m high around the main keep.
• Inner moat that surrounded the main keep.
• East and west entrances of the main keep.

Official site

www.city.hirosaki.aomori.jp

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Visit Hirosaki Castle, a historic 17th-century castle, to see one of Japan's few original keeps.

What it is

• A Japanese castle completed in 1611.
• Built by Tsugaru Nobuhira.
• Center of politics and economy for the Tsugaru region.
• One of Japan's 12 existing castle keeps.

What to see

• The current castle keep, built in 1810.
• Five castle gates.
• Three castle turrets.
• The castle grounds are a National Historic Site.
• The keep and other structures are Important Cultural Properties.

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Explore a medieval castle ruin, once home to the Sannohe Nanbu clan, now a National Historic Site.

What it is

• A medieval flatland castle ruin in Nanbu Town.
• Also known as Motosannohe Castle.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• Home to the Sannohe Nanbu clan for 200 years.

What to see

• Site of the main castle.
• Sankoji Temple area.
• Motosannohe Hachimangu Shrine area.
• Excavated remains of pillar-supported buildings.
• Excavated remains of pit dwellings.

Read more about Shōjujidate Castle

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

What it is

• A castle built in 1539 by Nanbu Harumasa.
• Designated a national historic site on March 15, 2022.
• The official residence until 1634.

What to see

• Extensive castle ruins on a river terrace.
• A restored gate at the base of the mountain.
• A castle-like building from 1967.
• Onkakukan, a historical museum.
• Shiroyama Park, surrounding the site.

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Explore the ruins of Tanesato Castle, the birthplace of the Tsugaru clan, a significant historical site.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle, founded in 1491.
• Birthplace of the Tsugaru clan.
• Part of the Tsugaru Clan Castle Ruins National Historic Site.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 2002.

What to see

• Castle ruins facing the Akaishi River.
• Tomb for Koshin, southwest of the main enclosure.
• Tomb for Nara Mondo Sadachika nearby.

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Explore Shichinohe Castle ruins, a National Historic Site with a rich medieval history.

What it is

• A designated National Historic Site.
• Also known as Kashiwaba Castle.
• Built by Nanbu Masamitsu in the late 14th century.
• A hirayamajiro type castle from medieval to early modern times.

What to see

• Castle ruins consisting of seven baileys.
• Located on a 40-meter high hill.
• Situated on the left bank of the Sakuta River.

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Explore Ne Castle, a reconstructed flatland mountain castle and National Historic Site in Hachinohe.

What it is

• A Japanese flatland mountain castle.
• Designated a National Historic Site since 1941.
• One of Japan's Top 100 Castles.

What to see

• Foundations, enclosures, moats, and earthworks remain.
• The main keep has restored structures.
• See the middle and Tozenji enclosures.

Official site

www.hachinohe-cb.jp

Read more about Ne Castle