Castles

Original Castles

There are more than 300 castles in Japan, but there are only 12 original castles with existing towers.
The 12 castles are as follows.

Aomori Prefecture

あわせて読みたい

Hirosaki Castle Hirosaki Castle (弘前城) is a historic castle located in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, in the northern part of Honshu, the main island of Japan. It was o...

Nagano Prefecture

あわせて読みたい

Matsumoto Castle Matsumoto Castle (松本城), also known as the "Crow Castle" due to its black exterior, is a historic castle located in Matsumoto city, Nagano Prefecture, Japa...

Aichi Prefecture

あわせて読みたい

Inuyama Castle Inuyama Castle (犬山城) is a historic castle located in the city of Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the oldest and most well-preserved castles...

Fukui Prefecture

あわせて読みたい

Maruoka Castle Maruoka Castle (丸岡城), located in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, is a mountain castle known as one of the 12 existing castle towers, built in the 16th centu...

Hyogo Prefecture

あわせて読みたい

Himeji Castle Himeji Castle (姫路城) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most famous castles in Japan. It is located in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, and is of...

Shiga Prefecture

あわせて読みたい

Hikone Castle Hikone Castle (彦根城) is a historic castle located in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. It was built in the early 17th century by Lord Ii Naokatsu, a powerfu...

Shimane Prefecture

あわせて読みたい

Matsue Castle Matsue Castle (松江城) is a castle located in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. It is also known as "Black Castle" due to its black exterior. The castl...

Okayama Prefecture

あわせて読みたい

Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle Bitchu Matsuyama Castle (備中松山城) is a mountain castle located in Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture. It is one of the few remaining castles in Japan that...

Kochi Prefecture

あわせて読みたい

Kochi Castle Kochi Castle (高知城) is a castle located in the city of Kochi in Kochi Prefecture, Japan. It was originally built in 1601 and has since become one of the mo...

Kagawa Prefecture

あわせて読みたい

Marugame Castle Marugame Castle (丸亀城) is a castle located in Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. The castle was built in the 16th century and is one of the 12 surviv...

Ehime Prefecture

あわせて読みたい

Matsuyama Castle Matsuyama Castle (松山城) is a historic castle located in Matsuyama, Japan. It is one of the twelve original castles in Japan that have survived to the prese...

あわせて読みたい

Uwajima Castle Uwajima Castle (宇和島城), also known as Tsurushima Castle, is a historic castle located in the city of Uwajima in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. It was originally...