16 Castles in Niigata worth your time

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

What it is

• It was the administrative center of the Shibata Domain.
• Its alternative name is Ayamejo.
• It is the only castle ruin in Niigata with existing structures.
• The site is mostly a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force base.

What to see

• Part of the main keep and some turrets are still standing.
• The Honmaru Omotemon (main gate) is a cultural property.
• The former Ninomaru Sumiyagura is a cultural property.
• The castle used the Kajigawa River as an outer moat.
• The site is maintained as Shibata Castle Park.

When to go

• It is known as a cherry blossom viewing spot.

Read more about Shibata Castle

Murakami Castle offers stone ramparts and watchtower foundations on Mt. Gagyu, providing views of the town.

What it is

• Remnants of a castle that stood for nearly 250 years.
• Located on Mt. Gagyu, a 135-meter forested hill.
• First fortified in the early 1500s by a local warrior group.
• New castle built in the 1600s by shogunate retainers.

What to see

• Stone ramparts and remnants of large gates.
• Foundation stones of watchtowers on the summit.
• Surviving sections of ramparts with smooth surfaces.
• View of the former castle town, Miomote River, and Sea of Japan.

Getting there

• Located just east of central Murakami.
• Reach hilltop site by 15-minute hike up a slope.

Read more about Murakami Castle

Explore the historical site of Uesugi Castle, once a powerful clan residence and battlefield.

What it is

• Former Japanese castle in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture.
• Shitokuji Yakata was residence of the Uesugi clan.
• Otate was residence of Kanto Kanrei Uesugi Norimasa.
• Otate was built by Uesugi Kenshin during Koji era.

What to see

• No visible remains of the residences are left.
• Excavation of Shitokuji Yakata began in 1975.
• Site of the Otate War in 1578.
• Outer enclosure of Otate was 250m by 300m.

Getting there

• Located around JR Naoetsu Station.

Read more about Uesugi Castle

Explore a mountain castle ruin with historical significance and panoramic views.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle, abandoned in 1609.
• Castle of the Ueda Nagao clan.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1979.

What to see

• Main keep on Sakado Mountain peak, 634 meters high.
• Remains of a peacetime residence at the mountain's foot.
• Main keep, second, and third enclosures.
• Over 100畝状竪堀 between Nishinomaru and Teragahana.
• Views overlooking Mikuni Kaido across the Uono River.

Read more about Sakado Castle

Matsudai Castle offers a replica keep and historic ruins on a mountain, a short walk from the station.

What it is

• A Japanese castle built on Matsudai Castle Mountain.
• The castle ruins are a designated cultural property.
• Built by Kazama Kurouzaemon Sadakatsu.

What to see

• A replica keep observation facility, renovated in 2021.
• Original earthworks, moats, and dry moats.
• The mountain is 385 meters high.

Getting there

• 20-minute walk from Matsudai Station.
• Free parking is available.

Read more about Matsudai Castle

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

What it is

• A Japanese castle in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture.
• Built as the residence for Matsudaira Tadateru, Tokugawa Ieyasu's sixth son.
• Construction began and completed in 1614.
• Designated a Niigata Prefecture historic site.

What to see

• The three-story turret, rebuilt in 1993.
• Earthworks used for all enclosures.
• Sekikawa and Aotagawa rivers, which served as outer moats.

Read more about Takada Castle

Arato Castle is a 16th-century mountain fortification, showcasing early Japanese castle design and defensive strategies.

What it is

• Castle built in 1578 by Uesugi Kagekatsu.
• Defensive fortification during a family dispute.
• Example of an early mountain castle (yamashiro).

What to see

• Path that was once the Mikuni Road.
• Embankments dug to forestall attackers.
• Remains of a well between baileys.
• Dry moat.
• Main bailey on the summit.
• Raised clearing that once held a signal tower.

Read more about Arato Castle

Explore Samegao Castle ruins, a National Historic Site with a dramatic past.

What it is

• A former Japanese castle in Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture.
• Designated a National Historic Site on July 28, 2008.
• Built or renovated by the Uesugi clan.
• Selected as one of the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles.

What to see

• Castle ruins, including a second bailey.
• Excavated burnt rice from the rebellion.
• Heated pottery and rice balls found in 2008.

Read more about Samegao Castle

Fukushima Castle is a historic flatland castle site, worth visiting for its ruins and monument.

What it is

• A Japanese flatland castle site.
• Construction started after 1600 by Horihideharu.
• Completed by Hori Tadatoshi.
• Abandoned in 1614.

What to see

• Excavated stone wall remains.
• Pottery fragments from the castle.
• A stone monument marks the site.
• Minato Shrine is 50 meters away.

Getting there

• 20-minute walk from Kuroi Station.

Read more about Fukushima Castle

Explore the historic site of Yoita Jinya, a former administrative center with surviving gates.

What it is

• A jinya, an administrative center of the Yoita Domain.
• Founded in 1634 by Makino Yasunari.
• Also known as Yoita Castle from 1804.

What to see

• The Otemon and Kitte-mon gates survived a fire.
• A restored stone monument marks the site.
• A restored Kabukimon gate stands at the location.
• Existing gates are Nagaoka City cultural properties.

Read more about Yoita Jinya

Explore the historical site of Nagaoka Castle, a flatland castle with a rich samurai past.

What it is

• A former flatland castle in Echigo Province.
• Built in 1616 by Naozumi Hori.
• Residence of the Makino clan.
• Destroyed by fire during the Boshin War.

What to see

• No castle structures remain today.
• Site of the former main keep is now a railway station.
• Foundation stones were discovered in 1954.
• The castle once had 17 gates.

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Explore a former castle site, now a park, with well-preserved moats and earthworks.

What it is

• A former Japanese castle, built in the early Kamakura period.
• The Omi clan from Izu built the original castle.
• It was expanded during the Sengoku period.
• The castle was abolished in 1644.

What to see

• The main bailey is now a children's park.
• Inner moats remain in good condition.
• Earthworks are also well-preserved.

Read more about Kanbara Yasuda Castle

Explore Kasugayama Castle ruins, a National Historic Site and former home of Uesugi Kenshin.

What it is

• A medieval Japanese mountain castle.
• Home of the Nagao clan and warlord Uesugi Kenshin.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• First built during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period.

What to see

• Castle ruins of a great mountain castle.
• Site where Uesugi Kenshin lived.
• One of Japan's Top 100 Castles.

Read more about Kasugayama Castle

Akatani Castle is a historic mountaintop ruin with a dramatic tale of samurai resistance.

What it is

• A mountaintop castle, also known as Sekigamine Castle.
• Built in 1182 by Jō Nagamochi.
• Jō Nagamochi enshrined Myōken Daibosatsu here.
• Later became the Odagiri clan's castle.

What to see

• Castle ruins on a 205-meter-high hill.
• Site of a three-day resistance against Uesugi Kagekatsu.

Read more about Akatani Castle

Explore Tochio Castle ruins, a mountain fortress where Uesugi Kenshin spent his youth.

What it is

• A Sengoku period mountain castle in Echigo Province.
• Also known as Maizuru Castle or Ohno Castle.
• A Niigata Prefecture designated historic site.
• Abandoned in 1610 after its fall in 1580.

What to see

• Remains of earthworks and stone walls.
• The site of Uesugi Kenshin's first battle.

Read more about Tochio Castle

Explore the ruins of a mountain castle, once home to the Irobe clan.

What it is

• A former Japanese mountain castle.
• Residence of the Irobe clan.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• Abandoned in 1598.

What to see

• Ruins of the mountain castle.
• Site of a mansion at the castle's base.

Read more about Hirabayashi Castle