20 Castles in Shizuoka worth your time

A historic mountain castle ruin in Hamamatsu where the Tokugawa and Takeda clans fought for strategic control.

What it is

• A mountain castle site located between the Tenryu and Futamata rivers.
• A designated National Historic Site maintained as a public park.
• The location where Tokugawa Ieyasu's eldest son committed ritual suicide.
• A strategic fortification abandoned around the year 1600.

What to see

• Stone walls constructed using limestone sourced from the local area.
• A stone tian-shu platform located within the main enclosure.
• Asahigaoka Shrine built on the site of the former north bailey.
• A replica well tower situated at the nearby Seiryu-ji Temple.

Getting there

• The site is a ten-minute walk from Futamata-honmachi Station.

Read more about Futamata Castle

Explore well-preserved 16th-century castle ruins with impressive earthworks and moats.

What it is

• A Japanese castle in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
• A Susono City designated historic site.
• Belonged to the Kazurayama clan.
• Abandoned in 1582 with the fall of the Takeda clan.

What to see

• Well-preserved earthworks, moats, and baileys.
• Castle ruins on Atago-yama, 270.4 meters above sea level.
• Main bailey on a leveled area at the top of Atago-yama.
• Second bailey 6-8 meters below the main bailey.
• Third bailey surrounds the entire structure as a passageway.
• Double dry moats cut ridge lines on the east and west.

Read more about Kazurayama Castle

Explore the ruins of Sagara Castle, a former samurai stronghold with historical significance.

What it is

• Former site of Sagara Castle in Shizuoka Prefecture.
• Seat of the Sagara Domain for a period.
• Residence of the Sagara clan.
• Built by Tanuma Okitsugu, taking 11 years.

What to see

• Ruins of a castle with a three-story keep.
• Traces of three baileys: Honmaru, Ninomaru, Sannomaru.
• Site of Sagara Jin'ya, built on the castle ruins.
• Modern city office, museum, and schools now stand here.

Read more about Sagara Castle

Explore Kakegawa Castle, Japan's first wooden replica keep, offering a glimpse into samurai history.

What it is

• A castle built by Imagawa Yoshitada during the Bunmei era (1469-1487).
• Expanded significantly by Yamauchi Kazutoyo in 1590.
• Designated a ruin by the Meiji government.
• Selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Castles in 2006.

What to see

• The main keep, rebuilt in 1994, is Japan's first wooden replica.
• The Otemon gate, rebuilt in 1995.
• The Ninomaru Goten, an Important Cultural Property.

Read more about Kakegawa Castle

Koyama Castle is a historic site with a simulated castle tower and rare triple moats.

What it is

• A Japanese castle in Yoshida Town, Shizuoka Prefecture.
• Designated historic site of Yoshida Town.
• Built on the foundation of Yamazaki Fort.
• Named Koyama Castle by Takeda Shingen in February 1571.

What to see

• A renkaku-shiki castle with three baileys.
• Features maru-umadashi and mikazuki-bori.
• Rare triple crescent-shaped moats.
• Simulated castle tower, Tenbodai Koyama Castle.

Read more about Koyama Castle

Explore a rare circular castle with three moats, a designated historic site from 1537.

What it is

• A Japanese flatland castle, built in 1537.
• Administrative center of Tanaka Domain during the Edo period.
• A Fujieda City designated historic site.
• Component of a Japan Heritage story.

What to see

• Rare structure with three concentric moats.
• Uncommon circular layout.
• Four related buildings are cultural properties.
• Two castle drawings are cultural properties.

Read more about Tanaka Castle

Explore Kōkokuji Castle ruins, a National Historic Site with a shrine, offering a glimpse into Japan's feudal past.

What it is

• A designated National Historic Site.
• A hirayamajiro (hilltop castle) utilizing natural defenses.
• Built at a transportation hub.
• Abandoned in 1607.

What to see

• Homi Shrine within the castle grounds.
• Castle ruins, including Honmaru and Ninomaru enclosures.
• Evidence of the oldest part, San-no-maru.
• Views from the southern foot of Mt. Ashitaka.

Read more about Kōkokuji Castle

Explore Sunpu Castle Park, the site of Tokugawa Ieyasu's residence, for its historical significance and ongoing excavations.

What it is

• Sunpu Castle Park is the site of Sunpu Castle.
• Tokugawa Ieyasu rebuilt the castle from 1585.
• It was Ieyasu's residence from 1586.
• Also known as Fuchu Castle or Shizuoka Castle.

What to see

• See the castle tower base, one of Japan's largest.
• View parts of the excavated inner moat.
• The site was selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Castles.

Address

静岡県静岡市葵区駿府城公園1-1 Map

Official site

sumpu-castlepark.com

Read more about Sunpu Castle

Explore a restored mountain castle, a historic site with Takeda-era insights.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle, built in 1414.
• Founded by Okuyama Kingo Sadayori.
• Designated a Hamamatsu City historic site in 1982.
• Restored based on excavation surveys.

What to see

• Restored watchtower, main hall, castle gate, and fences.
• Castle ruins show a Takeda period mountain castle.
• Castle is situated at an altitude of 420m.

Read more about Takane Castle

Explore Shizuhatayama Castle ruins, a mountaintop fortress with historical significance and visible remains.

What it is

• A mountaintop castle built around 1411.
• It served as a Tsume-no-shiro for Imagawa-kan.
• Captured by Takeda forces in 1568.
• Abandoned after Tokugawa Ieyasu entered in 1582.

What to see

• Remains of the main bailey on the ridgeline.
• Multiple baileys on the north and south ridges.
• Horikiri, defensive dry moats, are still visible.

Read more about Shizuhatayama Castle

Katsumata Castle is a historic park with 15th-century castle ruins, offering a glimpse into Japan's samurai past.

What it is

• A Japanese castle, now a historic park.
• Built around the mid-15th century.
• Home to the Katsumata clan.
• Designated historic site in Shizuoka Prefecture.

What to see

• Castle site on a 130-meter high hill.
• Three main sections: Hon-kuruwa, Ni-no-kuruwa, San-no-kuruwa.
• Remains of kuruwa, horikiri, dorui, and karabori.

Read more about Katsumata Castle

Explore the ruins of a formidable mountain castle, a National Historic Site with a rich samurai history.

What it is

• A Japanese castle, also known as Tsurumai Castle.
• A strong mountain castle.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• Selected as one of the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles in 2017.

What to see

• The castle mountain, 132 meters above sea level.
• Many earthworks and moats.
• Site of a mock tenshu destroyed by lightning.

Official site

takatenjinjyo.com

Read more about Takatenjin Castle

Explore Mitake Castle ruins, a National Historic Site with historical earthworks and stone walls.

What it is

• A Japanese castle ruin, designated a National Historic Site.
• It was the main castle of the Ii clan during wartime.
• Prince Muneyoshi made it his base.
• The castle fell in 1340 and again in 1513.

What to see

• Earthworks, dry moats, and stone walls remain.
• The castle is on the summit of Mt. Mitake, 467 meters high.

Read more about Mitake Castle

Explore a 16th-century flatland castle ruin with unique round stone walls, now a scenic park.

What it is

• A Japanese flatland castle.
• Built in 1578 by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• Currently maintained as a park.

What to see

• Unique round stone walls from the Tenryu River.
• Remaining stone walls, moats, and earthworks.
• Shachigawara and Onigawara tiles are cultural properties.

Read more about Yokosuka Castle

Explore Suwahara Castle ruins, a national historic site with unique features, built by the Takeda clan.

What it is

• A Japanese castle from the Sengoku period.
• Built by the Takeda clan of Kai.
• Designated as a national historic site.
• Selected as one of the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles in 2017.

What to see

• Castle ruins including moats, baileys, and umadashi.
• Located on a tongue-shaped plateau.

Read more about Suwahara Castle

Explore the ruins of Nirayama Castle, a significant Hojo clan stronghold from the 15th century.

What it is

• A Japanese castle in Izu Province.
• Designated a national historic site.
• Built in the Bunmei era (1469-1486).
• A base for the Hojo clan's control of Izu.

What to see

• Castle site on Ten-ga-take hill.
• Multiple baileys of a hirayamajiro.
• Excavated building remains.
• Wells and moats.

Official site

www.city.izunokuni.shizuoka.jp

Read more about Nirayama Castle

Explore the remains of a 16th-century hilltop castle, a Shizuoka Prefecture historic site.

What it is

• A former castle in Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
• Built in the early 16th century by Imagawauji.
• Rebuilt in 1569 by Hojo Ujimasa.
• A Shizuoka Prefecture designated historic site.

What to see

• Some remains of the castle still exist.
• The stronghold utilized the terrain on a hill.

Read more about Fukasawa Castle

Explore a medieval castle ruin and national historic site, once a key defense for the Hojo clan.

What it is

• A medieval Japanese castle ruin.
• Built by the Hojo clan between 1558 and 1570.
• A branch castle of Odawara Castle.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1934.

What to see

• Castle ruins developed into a park.
• Sokanje Temple, built in 1620.
• One of Japan's Top 100 Castles.

Read more about Yamanaka Castle

Explore Nagahama Castle, a Sengoku-period pirate castle ruin with coastal views, a designated National Historic Site.

What it is

• A designated National Historic Site.
• Known for Sengoku-period pirate castle ruins.
• Built by Hojo Ujimasa to defend Nirayama Castle.

What to see

• Castle ruins on a cape 33 meters high.
• Four main castle enclosures and smaller ones.
• Views of Uchiura Bay from the coast.

Read more about Nagahama Castle

This castle, rebuilt in 1958, has stone foundations built in a unique style for earthquake resistance.

What it is

• Castle built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1570.
• Renamed from Hikuma Castle by Ieyasu.
• Current keep is a 1958 reconstruction.

What to see

• Reconstructed castle keep.
• Stone foundations built in nozura zumi style.
• Foundations built by Horio Yoshiharu.

Official site

www.entetsuassist-dms.com

Read more about Hamamatsu Castle