Top 15 Castles to visit in Japan

Top 15 Castles to visit in Japan

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1. Himeji Castle

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Himeji Castle, nicknamed “The White Heron” and located in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, is said to be Japan’s most popular. Built in 1609 by a Tokugawa clan general, it is both a marvel of aesthetic beauty and of strategic defence, reflected in its Important National Treasure status and recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Himeji Castle is an excellent example of an intact Japanese castle, complete with traditional wooden structure and white plastered stone walls. The castle owes its condition to never having been attacked or bombed, unlike most others of its kind.

2. Hikone Castle

Hikone Castle is one of the oldest Japanese castles that are still intact. Dating from the Edo period, it is one of only five Japanese castles classified as Important National Treasures (along with Himeji, Matsue, Matsumoto and Inuyama castles). Hikone Castle is located in Shiga Prefecture near Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. Construction began in 1603 by order of Shogun Ii Naokatsuand and was finally completed in 1622. The hulking castle is set perfectly against a traditional Japanese landscape of beautiful gardens, just as well, for entrance to the building is forbidden. There is, however, a castle museum. The best period to visit is during the cherry blossom season.

3. Heijo Palace

Nara is a popular tourist spot, with crowds drawn by the famous free-roaming deer, as well as Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine. It was Japan’s first official capital city and therefore home to the seat of power – the Imperial Palace. When, however, the capital was moved to Heian-Kyo (now Kyoto), Nara’s Imperial Palace was simply abandoned. The ensuing centuries ravaged the building, the elements slowly chipping away at this most significant of palaces. Fortunately, the sections that lay underground were preserved and rediscovered by modern archaeologists who began restorative efforts in 1955. The site was opened to the public in 1998 and now welcomes thousands of visitors every year.

4. Nagoya Castle

Nagoya Castle is located in central Japan. During the Edo period, Nagoya stood within the most significant castle town in the area, Nagoyaa-juku. The castle of today was constructed in the early 17th century; however, its origins date back even further than this. The original castle was called Yanagi-no-maru, and the military governor Imagawa Ujichika built it as a gift for his son during the 1520s. Shortly after its completion, a warlord seized the castle and changed its name to Nagoya Castle. During WWII, the castle was used as a military headquarters and became the site of a POW camp. It was heavily damaged during US army air raids.

5. Imperial Palace

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Now surrounded by skyscrapers in the heart of Tokyo, the Imperial Palace was first built during the Edo period when Emperor Meiji ordered the transfer of the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo. the Imperial Palace remains the residence of the emperor, with a Kyūden (main palace building) and a Kyūchū-Sanden (three palace sanctuaries) where ceremonies are conducted. It was built on the site of the pre-existing Edo Castle, the political centre of Japan during the Edo period. The distance around the Imperial Palace moat is roughly 5 kilometres, accessible from its two adjoining parks: the eastern gardens, Higashi-gyoen and the outdoor garden, Kokyo Gaien.

6. Osaka Castle

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Osaka Castle is one of Japan’s most famous landmarks. As with many traditional Japanese castles, the Osaka Castle is built on a man-made stonewall; it is eight stories high and surrounded by a moat. The castle was erected on the site of a temple and the former imperial palace. In the late 1600s, there was a massive fire in the castle as lightning struck the gunpowder keep, setting everything ablaze in a massive explosion. During its short span of use, the castle played an important role in Japanese unification. In the late 19th century, the castle underwent much-needed repairs after years of neglect. The castle was featured in the 1955 film Godzilla Raids Again by Tomoyuki Tanaka.

7. Hirosaki Castle

The Tsugaru clan built the castle in the early 1600s after raising enough money and resources through a number of strategic alliances. It too was destroyed when a lightning bolt struck the gunpowder magazine only about 15 years after its construction – it was rebuilt two centuries later. Today, the surrounding park is one of the most notorious cherry blossom spots in the country. The park contains 2,600 cherry blossom trees, which were planted on the grounds in 1903. Hirosaki Castle is also the site of the annual Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors.

8. Matsue Castle

Completed in 1611, Matsue Castle is one of the few remaining medieval castles to still contain its original wooden structure. Though the fact that the castle is predominantly wooden, a major fire hazard, the castle was built after the great war of feudal Japan, so it never saw battle. It is nicknamed the ‘plover castle’ due to its structure and colouring, which is reminiscent of the type of bird. It is one of the oldest castles in Japan and the only one remaining in the Sanin region. For a 234-year reign spanning over ten generations, Naomasa Matsudaira and his descendants ruled the castle. Today, only the castle tower remains.

9. Kanazawa Castle

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Kanazawa Castle is a must-visit whilst in Kanazawa, especially as it is so conveniently located within a triangle formed with the Kenrokuen Garden and the art museum. Built-in 1583 on the initiative of the Maeda Family (Kaga clan), the current castle is, as is often the case, a reconstruction. The dungeon has, however, yet to be restored. Apart from its pleasant garden, the castle itself doesn’t have too much to offer. The best time to visit would be during the cherry blossom season.

10. Shimabara Castle

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You will find Shimabara Castle in the Nagasaki Prefecture. It is a hirajiro castle that is located near Mount Unzen and Ariake Bay. Shimabara Castle is known for its moats, which are up to 15 meters deep and 50 meters wide in some areas. The daimyos of Shimabara Castle fostered an oppressive regime, executing many Christians living in their territory and significantly raising taxes to pay for the castle. In the late 1800s, part of the castle was turned into school grounds and much of it became farmland. The castle is now a museum that contains exhibits on local culture and the Shimabara Rebellion during feudal times.

11.Okayama Castle

Probably one of the most beautiful castles in Japan, Okayama Castle, also called Ujo (Crow Castle), was built in 1573 by Ukita Naoie, a notable feudal lord. In 1603, the castle became the property of the Ikeda Family, the lords of Okayama. WWII bombing left the castle in need of extensive repair, which eventually came in 1966. The beautifully decorated facade, the greenery of the Asahi riverbank and the adjoining Korakuen gardens make this an extremely peaceful castle.

12. Shuri Castle

The bright crimson Shuri Castle is located in Okinawa and served as the palace for the Ryūkyū Kingdom. The castle was an important stop in Japan’s East Asian maritime networks. It dates all the way back to 1429. It was the largest castle on the island, though not necessarily the strongest militarily or economically. The castle has a long history of economic activity, and it has changed hands many times. In the beginning, the Ming Dynasty sent many Chinese families to live here for business purposes. In 1853, the infamous Commodore Matthew Perry paid a visit here as well. The United States occupied the grounds for nearly 30 years following WWII.

13. Takamatsu Castle

Takamatsu is the capital of Kagawa Prefecture and is the largest city in Shikoku, the smallest of the four main islands of Japan. With its four-hundred thousand inhabitants, foreign tourists are a rarity, though the few that do visit are sure to visit the castle. Built in 1590 by Chikamasa Ikoma, along with Nakatsu Castle and Imabari Castle, Takamatsu Castle makes up one of “three great water castles” of Japan. Popular for its sea-facing Tsukimi Yagura turret as well as Tamamo Park, a pleasant stone garden dotted with cherry and pine trees, Takamatsu Castle is well worth a visit.

14. Nijō Castle

Nijō Castle in Kyoto consists of two concentric rings of fortifications, the Ninomaru Palace, the ruins of Honmaru Palace; various support buildings and several gardens. Built in 1626, it served as the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa Shoguns. The castle has suffered significant damage over the years from a variety of sources, including a lightning strike in 1750. In 1788 the Inner Palace was destroyed by a city-wide fire, leaving the site empty until 1862. Now, the entire site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

15. Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto Castle in Nagano Prefecture is surrounded by mountains, acclaimed for its beautiful views and is notable for Kaichi School (Japan’s first High School) and as the home of Temari (traditional Japanese handball). Built in 1504, Matsumoto is also known as Crow Castle (Karasu Jo) because of its black facade and considered one of the five castles deemed Important National Treasures. Its last occupants were the Toda clan who occupied the castle until the end of the Samurai era in 1866. The castle is now open to tourists, with many ancient weapons, including early muskets and rifles, on show. The dungeon (tenshu) added in 1597 by the Ishikawa clan is the oldest in Japan.