12 Castles in Hiroshima worth your time

Miyao Castle is a historic island fortress, crucial to the Battle of Itsukushima.

What it is

• A Japanese castle, also known as Miyao-no-jo.
• Built on a 30-meter hill, part of Setonaikai National Park.
• Existed before the pivotal Battle of Itsukushima.

What to see

• The entire island is a Special Historic Site.
• The entire island is a Special Place of Scenic Beauty.
• Castle utilized a peninsula connected to Mt. Misen.
• Two high points formed the castle's center.
• Horikiri were built to cut off the two high points.
• Stone walls were used to solidify the ground.

Read more about Miyao Castle

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

What it is

• A Japanese castle in Hiroshima Prefecture.
• Completed in 1622, it was a large-scale early modern castle.
• Served as the domain office and lord's residence.
• Also known as Hisamatsu Castle and Iyo Castle.

What to see

• The castle ruins are a National Historic Site.
• The current castle tower was reconstructed in 1966.
• The castle tower area is a Scenic Important Building.
• It was selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Castles.

Official site

www.city.fukuyama.hiroshima.jp

Read more about Fukuyama Castle

Explore extensive ruins of a mountaintop castle, once a powerful clan's base.

What it is

• A mountain castle, built on a 197.6m high peak.
• A fort was built here in 1276 by Kobayakawa Masahira.
• Expanded in 1552, it was the Kobayakawa clan's base until 1596.
• Designated a national historic site in Mihara City.

What to see

• Castle extends 400m east to west.
• Remains of various enclosures like Honmaru and Nakanomaru.
• Main enclosure has masugata earthwork remains.
• Look for building foundation stones.

Read more about Niitakayama Castle

Explore Mihara Castle, a historic "Floating Castle" ruins, directly accessible from Mihara Station.

What it is

• A designated National Historic Site in Mihara, Hiroshima Prefecture.
• Also known as Ukishiro, or Floating Castle.
• Construction began in 1567 by Kobayakawa Takakage.
• Built to militarily control the Seto Inland Sea.

What to see

• The castle's main keep base.
• The Funairi-yagura ruins, located in Port Town Park.

Getting there

• Main keep base is accessible from JR Mihara Station concourse.

Read more about Mihara Castle

Explore Chojayama Castle, a recently discovered mountain castle with extensive earthwork walls and a unique stone gate.

What it is

• An ancient Japanese mountain castle.
• Discovered in 2019.
• Overlaps with the medieval Chojayashiki castle.

What to see

• Earthwork-style earthen mounds form the castle walls.
• Castle walls measure 2.4 kilometers in total length.
• A castle gate built with stone rows and masonry remains.
• The gate is known as Chojamon.
• L-shaped cuts are observed on the stone materials.

Read more about Chojayama Castle (Aki)

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

What it is

• A Japanese castle ruin, a National Historic Site.
• Former residence of the powerful Mōri clan.
• Expanded as the Mōri clan grew in influence.
• Mōri Terumoto lived here before Hiroshima Castle.

What to see

• Over 270 castle enclosures.
• The main enclosure on the mountaintop.
• Remains of inner and outer moats.
• Mōri Motonari's tomb on the site.

Read more about Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle

Kamei Castle is a historic hirayamajiro site, notable for its cherry blossoms and strategic past.

What it is

• A hirayamajiro type of Japanese castle.
• Built by Fukushima Masanori after the Battle of Sekigahara.
• Construction began in 1603 to deter the Mori clan.
• Designated a city historic site on November 4, 1983.

What to see

• The castle was built on a mountain 88 meters high.
• Now known as a cherry blossom viewing spot.

Read more about Kamei Castle

Explore Hinoyama Castle, a 16th-century mountain fortress and national historic site.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle, built around 1550.
• Designated a national historic site.
• Yoshikawa Motoharu made it his base.
• Expansion continued for three generations.

What to see

• Stone walls and stone ruins.
• Dry moats.
• The entire fortified mountain.

Read more about Hinoyama Castle

Explore the ruins of a significant branch castle of the Mori clan.

What it is

• A branch castle of Yoshida Koriyama Castle.
• Built in 1500 for Mori Hiromoto's retirement.
• A national historic site with Yoshida Koriyama Castle.

What to see

• Castle ruins with many kuruwa (baileys).
• The castle site is divided into four sections.

Read more about Tajihi-Sarugake Castle

Explore Ogurayama Castle, a national historic site with significant Kikkawa clan history.

What it is

• A castle of the Kikkawa clan.
• Also known as Momijiyama Castle or Ogura Castle.
• Built by Kikkawa Tsunemi.
• Designated as a national historic site.

What to see

• Many castle remains still exist.
• The ruins are maintained as a historical park.

Read more about Ogurayama Castle

Fuchu Outpost Castle: a 14th-century castle with a hilltop keep, offering a glimpse into samurai history.

What it is

• A Japanese castle built around 1394-1428.
• Built by Shirai Tanetoki.
• Also called Fujo, Kokujo, and Geifujo.
• The Shirai clan collected tolls from merchant ships.

What to see

• The main keep was on a 35m high hill.

Read more about Fuchu Outpost Castle

Explore the ruins of a 13th-century castle, a national historic site.

What it is

• A Japanese castle built in 1206.
• Constructed by Kobayakawa Shigehira.
• Residence of the Numata Kobayakawa clan.
• Abandoned in 1552.

What to see

• Castle ruins.
• A designated national historic site.

Read more about Takayama Castle