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Japan's Top Castles

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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).

55 result
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..

Ishikawa
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.

Hokkaido
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..

Aichi 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..

Wakayama 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.

Nagasaki
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..

Yamanashi 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..

Nagasaki 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..

Saga 2
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..

Nagano 1
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..

Okinawa 5
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..

Mie
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..

Aichi 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..

Ehime
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 ..

Ehime
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..

Mie
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