Castles to see

Japanese castles, from Himeji to Hirosaki

What the people who look after or describe each castle say.

Himeji Castle, Hyogo

JNTO counts Himeji as one of Japan’s 12 remaining original castles. JNTO: Himeji Castle UNESCO calls Himeji-jo the finest surviving example of early 17th-century Japanese castle architecture. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Himeji-jo

UNESCO calls it a masterpiece of construction in wood. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Himeji-jo Its white plastered earthen walls have earned it the name Shirasagi-jo, White Heron Castle. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Himeji-jo

UNESCO’s short description says Himeji-jo has 83 buildings. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Himeji-jo UNESCO’s longer statement says the castle property covers 107 hectares and has 82 buildings. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Himeji-jo

JNTO says the castle has over 80 buildings, joined by winding paths like a maze. JNTO: Himeji Castle JNTO says 74 structures at the castle are Important Cultural Assets of Japan. JNTO: Himeji Castle (UNESCO)

JNTO’s Himeji page describes a seven-story keep, about 400 years old. JNTO: Himeji Castle The same JNTO page also calls it the six-story main keep. JNTO: Himeji Castle

There are more than 1,000 cherry trees in the castle grounds. JNTO: Himeji Castle Only one of Himeji’s three original moats survives intact. JNTO: Himeji Castle

In 1882, fire destroyed the castle lord’s living quarters. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Himeji-jo Conservation projects at Himeji-jo have been carried out since 1934. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Himeji-jo

Himeji was spared from damage during the Second World War. JNTO: Himeji Castle (UNESCO) After a five-year project that began in 2010, the castle fully reopened on 27 March 2015. JNTO: Himeji Castle

UNESCO names fire and earthquakes as the greatest risks to the castle. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Himeji-jo

Matsumoto Castle, Nagano

Matsumoto Castle is the oldest surviving castle with five stories outside but six floors inside. Matsumoto Castle official website: About Matsumoto Castle JNTO’s list says Matsumoto’s main tower is said to be the oldest surviving castle tower in Japan. JNTO: Discover Japan’s Twelve Original Castles

There are five National Treasure buildings: the main keep, the small Inui keep, Watari Tower, Tatsumitsuke Tower and Tsukimi Tower. Matsumoto Castle official website: The Keep and Its Structure

The Moon-Viewing Tower, with its vermilion-lacquered veranda, was designed for peaceful gatherings. Japan Tourism Agency: Key Features of Matsumoto Castle

The castle buildings were named National Treasures on 20 April 1936. Matsumoto Castle official website: The Keep and Its Structure Matsumoto Castle was named a National Historic Site in 1930. Matsumoto Castle official website: History of Matsumoto Castle

Kumamoto Castle, Kumamoto

Kumamoto Castle as we see it was completed in 1607 by Kato Kiyomasa, its first daimyo. Kumamoto Castle official website: History Local people still call him “Seishoko-san”. Kumamoto Castle official website: History

Kumamoto’s nickname is Ginnan-jo, “ginkgo castle”, after a ginkgo tree said to be planted by Kato Kiyomasa. Kumamoto Castle official website: History

The castle once had 49 yagura turrets, 18 turret gates and 29 gates. Kumamoto Castle official website: History The grounds covered about 980,000 square metres, with a boundary of about 5.3 kilometres. Kumamoto Castle official website: History

Thirteen towers, including Uto-Yagura, survive in their original form. Kumamoto Castle official website: History Uto-Yagura has 3 tiers, 5 storeys and a basement, and is called the Third Tower. Kumamoto Castle official website: About Kumamoto Castle

The 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake damaged the castle. Kumamoto Castle official website: History The main tower was fully restored by March 2021, as a symbol of recovery. Kumamoto Castle official website: History

Osaka Castle, Osaka

Toyotomi Hideyoshi began building Osaka Castle in 1583, on the site of the Ishiyama Honganji temple. Osaka Castle Museum: English leaflet (April 2019) The Japan Tourism Agency says today’s tower, built in 1931, is the third main tower on the site. Japan Tourism Agency: Osaka Castle Main Tower

The Japan Tourism Agency gives Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s dates as 1537 to 1598. Japan Tourism Agency: Osaka Castle Main Tower

The tower is 58 metres tall and made of steel and concrete, on the old stone base. Japan Tourism Agency: Osaka Castle Main Tower The tower houses a museum with over 10,000 historical objects. JNTO: Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle is surrounded by 106 hectares of park. JNTO: Osaka Castle

Nagoya Castle, Aichi

Building began on Nagoya Castle in 1610, for Tokugawa Ieyasu’s ninth son, Yoshinao. Nagoya Castle official website: History Nagoya Castle was destroyed by firebombing in an air raid in 1945. Nagoya Castle official website: History

The castle towers were rebuilt in 1959. Nagoya Castle official website: History The keep is topped with golden shachihoko: tiger-fish roof ornaments. Nagoya Castle official website: Nagoya Castle

Nagoya Castle’s kaya tree is believed to be over 600 years old. Nagoya Castle official website: Nagoya Castle

Another Nagoya Castle page gives the Edo period as 1603 to 1868. Nagoya Castle official website: Nagoya Castle Nagoya Castle’s palace page gives the Edo period as 1603 to 1867. Nagoya Castle official website: About the Hommaru Palace

Inuyama Castle, Aichi

JNTO’s Inuyama page says Inuyama is said to have the oldest existing castle tower. JNTO: Inuyama Castle JNTO’s leaflet says Inuyama Castle was built in 1537. JNTO: Castles in Japan (Tourist Information Center leaflet, April 2024)

Inuyama Castle looks out over the Kiso River. JNTO: Inuyama Castle Until 2004, Inuyama was the only privately owned castle in Japan. JNTO: Discover Japan’s Twelve Original Castles

Inuyama was given back to its original owners in 1895, on condition that they repair damage from an 1891 earthquake. JNTO: Inuyama Castle

Hikone Castle, Shiga

Hikone Castle took 20 years to complete, and has stood for 400 years without significant damage. JNTO: Hikone Castle Hikone was home to the Ii family of lords from 1622 until the feudal era ended in 1867. JNTO: Hikone Castle

Hikone has a spiral ramp to the entrance that made attackers easy targets, and hidden openings for archers. JNTO: Hikone Castle Hikone looks out over Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake. JNTO: Hikone Castle

Hikone Castle never saw a real battle. JNTO: Discover Japan’s Twelve Original Castles

Matsue Castle, Shimane

Matsue is also called the Plover Castle, because of its shape and black outside. JNTO: Matsue Castle Matsue Castle was finished in 1611. JNTO: Matsue Castle

Matsue has the only surviving castle keep with a well inside. JNTO: Matsue Castle JNTO’s leaflet says Matsue was built in 1611 and named a National Treasure in 2015. JNTO: Castles in Japan (Tourist Information Center leaflet, April 2024)

Matsue is the second largest of Japan’s original castles, and the only one left in the San’in region. JNTO: Discover Japan’s Twelve Original Castles

JNTO’s Matsue page gives Tokugawa Ieyasu’s dates as 1543 to 1616. JNTO: Matsue Castle

Hirosaki Castle, Aomori

JNTO says Hirosaki Castle was first built in 1611 by Nobuhira of the Tsugaru clan. JNTO: Discover Japan’s Twelve Original Castles Hirosaki’s keep was first a five-storey tower; it was struck by lightning and burnt down in 1627. JNTO: Hirosaki Castle

The keep standing today was rebuilt in 1811 as a three-storey tower. JNTO: Hirosaki Castle In Tohoku, Hirosaki is the only castle that was built during the Edo period, says JNTO. JNTO: Hirosaki Castle

Hirosaki Castle is built on a flat plain, unlike many castles on high ground. JNTO: Hirosaki Castle

Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, Okayama

Bitchu Matsuyama is called the “Mountain Castle in the Sky”, because it seems to float above the clouds. JNTO: Bitchu Matsuyama Castle Bitchu Matsuyama stands on a 430-metre mountaintop, the highest fortress in Japan with a surviving castle tower. JNTO: Castles in Japan (Tourist Information Center leaflet, April 2024)

JNTO says the Bitchu Matsuyama complex dates back to 1240. JNTO: Discover Japan’s Twelve Original Castles

Bitchu Matsuyama’s buildings were in disrepair for many years and were restored by the local community. JNTO: Bitchu Matsuyama Castle

More original castles

Maruoka Castle, the “mist castle”, was levelled by the Fukui earthquake of 1948 and put back together using eighty percent of its original materials. JNTO: Discover Japan’s Twelve Original Castles JNTO calls Maruoka a contender for having one of the oldest keeps. JNTO: Discover Japan’s Twelve Original Castles

JNTO says Kochi Castle served as the home of the region’s lord, rather than being only for war. JNTO: Discover Japan’s Twelve Original Castles JNTO’s leaflet says Kochi Castle’s tower was rebuilt in 1749, after a fire. JNTO: Castles in Japan (Tourist Information Center leaflet, April 2024)

Uwajima Castle was ruled by the Date clan, whose history in Uwajima spans 400 years. JNTO: Discover Japan’s Twelve Original Castles

Matsuyama Castle sits on top of Mt. Katsuyama and can be reached by ropeway, chairlift or on foot. JNTO: Discover Japan’s Twelve Original Castles

Marugame Castle’s history dates back to 1587. JNTO: Discover Japan’s Twelve Original Castles

Some of these castles are dated or counted differently by different sources. More on when sources disagree.

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