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Japan's Top Castles

Photo: Ignatius Koh

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Gathering together the castles that make up a famous Japanese list—the Top 100 Castles, or Hyakumeijo—by the Japanese Castle Foundation. (Note: we are slowly working to feature all one hundred spots here).

Found: 55 results
World Heritage Nakijin Castle

World Heritage Nakijin Castle

Bonson Lam

We still don't know who constructed Nakijin, though the excavations show that it was started in the 13th century. The fact that..

أوكيناوا
Kanazawa Castle Park

Kanazawa Castle Park

Anna van Dyk

Kanazawa Castle and Castle Gardens are a gem in the city's sights. Although the original buildings may no longer exist, their..

إيشيكاوا
Fukuyama Castle

Fukuyama Castle

Jason Williamson

Take a trip back in time as you explore the artifacts at Fukuyama Castle and its surrounding ruins.

هيروشيما 3
Discovering Obi Castle in Miyazaki

Discovering Obi Castle in Miyazaki

Featured

The Obi Castle Ruins sit at the northern edge of the quaint, rural town of Obi in Nichinan, Miyazaki.

ميازاكي
Matsumae Castle

Matsumae Castle

Mandy Bartok

Matsumae Castle was the northernmost Japanese castle in the Edo Period and the only one to be constructed on Hokkaido.

هوكايدو
The Castles of Nagoya

The Castles of Nagoya

Daniel Vesey

When visiting Nagoya there are two castles that you need to check out. The obvious one is the majestic Nagoya Castle but Iwasa..

أيشي 4
Wakayama Castle

Wakayama Castle

Mandy Bartok

Wakayama Castle was Toyotomi Hideyoshi's stronghold on the Kii Peninsula and despite its reconstructed keep, it's stil..

واكاياما 2
Shimabara Castle

Shimabara Castle

Mandy Bartok

Learn about the Shimabara peninsula's revolutionary ties to Christianity at the museum in the main keep of Shimabara Castle.

ناغازاكي
Re-building Kofu Castle

Re-building Kofu Castle

Cathy Cawood

Although Kofu Castle was a ruin, authentic replicas of one of the towers and one of the gates have been built by referring to 16th..

ياماناشي 1
Hirado Castle

Hirado Castle

Mandy Bartok

Hirado castle, a modern reconstruction with 300 year old gates, stands on a hill high above the port of Hirado, where old European..

ناغازاكي 1
Yoshinogari Koen, Saga

Yoshinogari Koen, Saga

Georgina Young

One of the oldest historical sites in Japan, an ancient Yayoi period village and its culture comes alive at Yoshinogari Histor..

ساجا 2
Matsue Castle: A Reminder of the Past

Matsue Castle: A Reminder of the Past

Featured

Matsue is a traditional castle town, with one of only twelve original remaining castles nationwide as its foremost symbol.

شيمانه 1
Tamamo Park, Takamatsu 9

Tamamo Park, Takamatsu

Peter Sidell

In Takamatsu in Kagawa prefecture on Japan's Shikoku island, Tamamo Park is a pleasant park, home to the ruins of Takamatsu..

كاجاوا
The Ruins of Tottori Castle

The Ruins of Tottori Castle

Bryan Baier

Tottori Castle Ruins are in the heart of downtown Tottori and are a great place to walk, have lunch or enjoy the sakura during the..

توتّوري
Hikone Castle

Hikone Castle

Bryan Baier

One of the 12 remaining pre Edo-era castles in Japan just outside of Kyoto

شيجا 5
Takato Castle Ruins Park

Takato Castle Ruins Park

Bryan Baier

A park with more than 1500 pink sakura trees where Takato Castle once stood. It's on the list of 100 best sakura viewing locations..

ناغانو 1
The Ruins of Takeda Castle

The Ruins of Takeda Castle

Bryan Baier

Built in 1441 on the summit of a 1,000-foot mountain, the ruins of Takeda Castle cover an area a quarter of a mile in length and..

هيوغو 2
Shuri-jo Castle

Shuri-jo Castle

Peter Sidell

A blend of Japanese and Chinese cultures, Shuri-jo castle was the seat of Ryukyuan royalty before the Okinawan islands became part..

أوكيناوا 5
Gifu Castle, Park and Ropeway

Gifu Castle, Park and Ropeway

Dee Kernke

Gifu castle and Ropeway provides a marvelous view of Gifu City and the Naragarawa River from the top of Mt. Kinka. It was from this..

جيفو 14
Matsusaka Castle Ruins

Matsusaka Castle Ruins

Chris Glenn

A trip to Matsusaka wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the impressive remains of the castle and it’s famed samurai barrac..

ميّ
Okazaki Castle

Okazaki Castle

Chris Glenn

Okazaki Castle is the symbol of the city. Originally built in 1455 by the warrior Saigo Tsugiyori, the castle grounds are now a..

أيشي 1
Spectacular Views at Matsuyama Castle

Spectacular Views at Matsuyama Castle

Anonymous

Matsuyama Castle stands on a significant hill right in the middle of town, offering spectacular views of the city, mountains and..

إيهيمه
Imabari Castle by Day

Imabari Castle by Day

Anonymous

Imabari Castle is one of the obvious landmarks of the city of Imabari. It’s a very pretty castle, surrounded by a square moat ..

إيهيمه
Iga Ueno Castle

Iga Ueno Castle

Chris Glenn

Most foreign tourists head to the north western Mie Prefecture town to see the ninja, without even realizing the city of Iga Ueno..

ميّ
Ozu Castle - An Authentic Reconstruction

Ozu Castle - An Authentic Reconstruction

Anonymous

Ozu castle stands on a hillock that extends into a bend in the river Hiji, creating the impression that the castle stands on an..

إيهيمه 3
Kochi Castle Tour and History

Kochi Castle Tour and History

Nate Hill

Kochi Castle is in downtown Kochi on Otakasa Hill, and offers a great place for a lookout over the city. You can also enjoy a picnic..

كوشي
Nagashino Castle and Museum

Nagashino Castle and Museum

Chris Glenn

Nagashino Castle, high on a cliff at the fork of the Ure and the Kansa Rivers, guarded the Tokugawa held Mikawa provinces from the..

أيشي
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