Castles in Japan
Four great castles in Japan
It is generally considered that the following four castles are the greatest ones in Japan.
Those castles have a big and beautiful castle tower and a wide site with a strong defense system.
Nagoya Castle (名古屋城, Nagoya city)
Nagoya Castle is in the center of Nagoya city.
It was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1612.
”Golden Shachihoko" like a pair of sea monsters on the roof are the gorgeous symbol of the castle.
The original castle tower had been designated as National Treasure.
Unfortunately, it had been destroyed by the U.S. air raid in 1945, at the end of World War II.
The current castle tower was rebuilt in 1959.
And "Honmaru Goten" by the castle tower was the palace for the lodging for Shogun, and it was restored in 2017.
Osaka Castle (大阪城, Osaka city)
Osaka Castle is in the center of Osaka city.
It is a historical great castle built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1585.
Osaka was the important city in the western Japan, so Osaka Castle was managed by Edo Government.
But, the castle tower was burnt down in 1665.
The castle tower was restored on the basis of old drawings in 1931.
The site is open to the public as a city park.
Himeji Castle (姫路城, Himeji city)
Himeji Castle is the most beautiful and popular castle and it is in Himeji city located about 80 km west of Osaka city.
The dazzling white walls are attractive, so it is also called "White Egret Castle".
It was built in 1580 and is the existing castle tower.
It is designated National Treasure, and it is designated World Heritage Site.
To defend against enemies, the castle site around the castle tower has a complex structure.
Kumamoto Castle (熊本城, Kumamoto city)
Kumamoto Castle was built by Kato Kiyomasa in 1607 and is in Kumamoto city in the center of Kyushu island.
Kato Kiyomasa was a lord who could construct good castles, so this castle had very strong facilities to defend against the enemies.
In 1877, many original buildings including the castle tower were destroyed by the civil war.
The castle tower was rebuilt in 1960.
But, it was badly damaged in the great earthquake in 2016.
It is on the road to restore.
Castles in each region
Hokkaido Region
Hokkaido had been an uncolonized land until the 19th century.
So, only one castle had been constructed as the base to trade with Ainu, the indigenous people.
Matsumae Castle (松前城)
Matsumae Castle is a small castle in Matsumae town at the southern tip of Hokkaido.
This is the only castle in Hokkaido.
An old castle was built in 1606, and the formal castle was completed to defend the nation in 1855.
The original castle was burnt down in 1949, and current castle was rebuilt in 1961.
Goryokaku (五稜郭)
Goryokaku is in Hakodate city in the southernmost parts of Hokkaido.
It was built for strengthening homeland security against foreign countries in 1866.
It is a unique star-shaped fort surrounded by moats and only a government office was set up.
But Edo Government had been overthrown 2 years late.
So this site was open to the public as a park in 1914.
Now, it is a place famous for its cherry blossoms in Hokkaido.
Tohoku Region
Hirosaki Castle (弘前城, Aomori Pref.)
Hirosaki Castle is in Hirosaki city in Aomori Prefecture.
It was built by the the feudal lords in this area in 1611.
The castle tower was burnt down in 1627, and small castle tower was rebuilt in 1811 at last.
It is the current castle tower.
Many cherry trees have been planted in this site, so here is one of the best cherry blossom spots in Japan.
Shiroishi Castle (白石城, Miyagi Pref.)
Shiroishi Castleis in Shiroishi city to the south of Sendai city.
The original castle was built in 1591 and Date Masamune who was a leading warlord in Sendai got hold of this castle after a civil war.
After samurai period, the castle was broke down in 1875.
Current castle tower was restored as a ssymbol of the city in 1995.
Shirakawa Komine Castle (白河小峰城, Fukushima Pref.)
Shirakawa Komine Castle is a castle in Shirakawa city in Fukushima Prefecture.
It is said that the original castle was built as a fort in 1340, and the former castle was rebuilt in 1632.
But it was destroyed by civil war in 1868.
Current castle tower was built in 1991 and the main gate was built in 1994.
Tsurugajo castle (鶴ヶ城, Fukushima Pref.)
Tsurugajo castle is in Aizu-Wakamatsu city in Fukushima Prefecture and it is a symbol of the city.
Tsurugajo is the nickname, and the formal name is Wakamatsu Castle.
The original castle was built in 1384, and it was reconstructed to the current style in 1593.
But it was destroyed by civil war in 1874.
Current castle tower was restored as a museum in 1965.
The red roof tiles are characteristic.
Kanto Region
Kokyo [Imperial Palace] (皇居, Tokyo)
Tokyo is the capital of Japan, and the city name until 1868 was "Edo".
Edo became the capital of united Japan in 1603, and Edo Castle (江戸城) became the center of government.
Edo Castle had been built in 1457, and it was expanded on a large scale for the government in the early 17th century.
The gorgeous castle tower was built in 1606, and the castle became the biggest castle in Japan.
But, the castle tower was burned down in 1658, and it was not rebuilt.
Many palaces and buildings were built in the site and Shogun lived in the site.
He governed the country and many samurais worked as the officers in the castle.
In 1868, Edo Government ended and modern nation started.
The Emperor family moved from Kyoto to Tokyo, and the site of Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace which is the palace and the residence of the Emperor family.
Now, Kokyo occupies the wide part of central Tokyo and it is inside of the moats.
Because great Edo Castle was in Edo, almost all castles in Kanto Region had been demolished.
Odawara Castle (小田原城, Kanagawa Pref.)
Odawara Castle is in Odawara city about 70 km southwest of Edo (Tokyo).
It was built in the early 15th century, and it had the strong defense.
The location is at the important entrance to Kanto Region, so this castle remained and was used as a key strategic point to defence the capital.
The buildings were demolished in the 1870s, and the castle tower was restored in 1960.
Koshin-etsu Region
Matsumoto Castle (松本城, Nagano Pref.)
Matsumoto Castle is in Matsumoto city in Nagano Prefecture.
The black walls are impressive and it is one of the beautiful castles in Japan.
The castle was constructed in 1504 and the castle tower was built in the 1590s.
Current castle tower is the original building and is designated National Treasure.
The five-storied castle tower is beautiful.
Kaikoen (懐古園, Nagano Pref.)
Kaikoen is the ruin of Komoro Castle (小諸城) built in 1487 and is in Komoro city in Nagano Prefecture.
It is said that the castle was an impregnable fortress because of natural barrier by steep cliff.
The castle tower was hit by lightning and burnt down in 1626, but a few gates remain.
Hokuriku Region
Toyama Castle (富山城, Toyama Pref.)
Toyama Castle is in the center of Toyama city in Toyama Prefecture.
It was built in 1543 and was demolished in 1871.
Some buildings had been built, but the castle tower was not built at that time.
Only an original gate remain and was relocated to its current site.
And, the castle tower was built for museum as a simulated castle in 1954.
Kanazawa Castle (金沢城, Ishikawa Pref.)
Kanazawa Castle in Kanazawa city was built in 1580.
In the 17th century, Kanazawa became one of the largest cities in Japan, so this castle is large.
Because most buildings were destroyed by fire in 1881, the site became the ruin.
The site became the city park in 1996 and wooden restoration of the castle started in 1999.
Now restored buildings are increasing.
Maruoka Castle (丸岡城, Fukui Pref.)
Maruoka Castle is in Sakai city to the north of Fukui city in Fukui Prefecture.
The small castle was built in 1576, and is one of original 12 casles in Japan.
After samurai period, Japanese government demolished unnecessary castles in 1871.
But luckily, Maruoka town bought it, so this castle was preserved.
Echizen-Ono Castle (越前大野城, Fukui Pref.)
Echizen-Ono Castle is in a small basin surrounded by mountains in Fukui Prefecture.
The castle was built in 1575 and was destroyed by fire in 1759, and it was rebuilt as a museum in 1968.
The castle is on a small hill.
Fog enveloped the basin sometimes in cool season and the castle appeared on the sea of fog, so it is known as "Castle in the Sky".
Tokai Region
Tokai Region produced three historical warlord heroes.
Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), born in Kiyosu Castle
Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598), born in a village in current Nagoya
Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616), born in Okazaki Castle
They were the local warlords in this region, but they were strong and capable samurais.
They were mutually rivals, but they waged battles in strategic cooperation.
Nobunaga tried to unify the country in the long civil war, but he was assassinated on the way in 1582.
Hideyoshi who was the best retainer of Nobunaga unified the country in 1590.
Hideyoshi died in 1598, and Ieyasu who was the rival got the top of Japan.
After that, Ieyasu established Edo Government in 1603, and stable samurai nation for over 260 years started.
In Tokai Region, there are some castles related to them.
Sunpu Castle (駿府城, Shizuoka Pref.)
Sunpu Castle was is in the center of Shizuoka city in Shizuoka Prefecture.
It was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1585.
Shizuoka was the territory which Ieyasu seized and the castle was his important base fort.
It was demolished in 1869.
Some historic buidings except the castle tower has been restored since 1989.
Kakegawa Castle (掛川城, Shizuoka Pref.)
Kakegawa Castle is a small castle built in the early 16th century.
It is in Kakegawa city and is located about 40 km west of Shizuoka city.
In the battles by warlords, Tokugawa Ieyasu got this castle as the base of this area in 1569.
The castle tower was destroyed by the great earthquake in 1854, and it was restored in 1994.
Okazaki Castle (岡崎城, Aichi Pref.)
Okazaki Castle is in Okazaki city located about 30 km southeast of Nagoya city.
The castle was built in 1452 and Tokugawa Ieyasu was born in this castle in 1542.
The original castle tower was destroyed by the great earthquake in 1604, and new castle tower was built in 1617.
The castle tower was demolished in 1873, but it was restored in 1959.
Kiyosu Castle (清洲城, Aichi Pref.)
Kiyosu Castle is a small castle built in 1405.
It is in Kiyosu city adjacent to Nagoya city
Oda Nobunaga was born in this castle in 1534, and a castle town had been formed around the castle.
In the 1610s, Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu moved this castle and the town for the defence to a hill located 6 km southeast of this area.
On the hill, Nagoya Castle and the town were constructed and current Nagoya city was formed.
On the ruin of Kiyosu Castle, simulated castle tower was built as the museum in 1989.
Inuyama Castle (犬山城, Aichi Pref.)
Inuyama Castle is in Inuyama city located about 25 km north of Nagoya city.
It was built by uncle of Oda Nobunaga in 1617.
The castle was abondoned in 1871, but the castle tower was preserved.
It is designated National Treasure, and it is one of original 12 casles in Japan.
The castle is on a hill by Kiso River, and the castle town is attractive.
Gifu Castle (岐阜城, Gifu Pref.)
Gifu Castle is on the top of Mt. Kinka (329 m) in Gifu city.
It was built as a fort in 1201, and Oda Nobunaga seized this in a battle in 1567.
After that, Oda family and Toyotomi family became the lord of this castle.
But, Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu abondoned this castle in 1601.
The castle tower was built as an imitation building in 1956.
There is a ropeway to the castle from the foot of the mountain.
Iga-Ueno Castle (伊賀上野城, Mie Pref.)
Iga-Ueno Castle is a local castle in Iga city in Mie Prefecture.
It was built in 1585 and it has one of the highest stone walls in Japan.
The castle tower was restored as the historic building in 1935.
Iga is a birthplace of "Ninja", so it is said that there was a temple where Ninja gathered to battle around the castle.
Kansai Region
Hikone Castle (彦根城, Shiga Pref.)
Hikone Castle is in Hikine city in Shiga Prefecture and is located near Lake Biwa.
After the establishment of Edo Government in 1603, this castle was built in 1622.
And the castle became the political center of this area.
After the end of samurai period, it escaped the destruction and was preserved.
The existing castle tower remains, and it is designated as National Treasure.
The mascot "Hikonyan" of this castle is very popular.
Nijo Castle (二条城, Kyoto city)
Nijo Castle in in the western part of Kyoto city.
It was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1601.
Kyoto had been the capital where the emperor was living, and this castle was Kyoto branch-office of Edo Castle.
There was the castle tower, but it was burned down.
After samurai period, it was changed to a villa of Emperor's family in 1885.
The old palace is designated as National Treasure.
Wakayama Castle (和歌山城, Wakayama Pref.)
Wakayama Castle is in the center of Wakayama city located about 60 km southwest of Osaka city.
It was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1585.
From 1619, the castle became one of the castles that Shogun family lived.
The castle has a unique structure that two castle towers are connected by a long corridor.
Ruins of Takeda Castle (竹田城址, Hyogo Pref.)
Ruins of Takeda Castle are on a hill in the mountainous area in Hyogo Prefecture.
It is supposed to Takeda Castle was built in the middle of the 15th century.
But it was demolished by Tokugawa Ieyasu in the 1600s.
Only the stone walls remain on the mountain, so it is called Japanese "Machu picchu" (Ruins of Inca in South America).
Because a sea of clouds emerges in late autumn, it is also called "Castle in the Sky".
Chugoku Region
Okayama Castle (岡山城, Okayama Pref.)
Okayama Castle is in Okayama city in Okayama Prefecture.
It was built in the 14th century, and was renovated in the 1590s.
It has a unique black castle tower, so the nickname is "Crow Castle".
The outstanding garden "Korakuen" near the castle was constructed by the lord of the castle.
The garden is popular because the scenery including Okayama Castle is good.
Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle (備中松山城, Okayama Pref.)
Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle is on a mountain near Takahashi city in the center of Okayama Prefecture.
The original castle was built around 1683 and is designated as important cultural property.
The castle town is in a valley and the castle is on the mountain on the edge of town.
It is also popular as the castle on the sea of clouds.
Hiroshima Castle (広島城, Hiroshima Pref.)
Hiroshima Castle is in the center of Hiroshima city and is close to Genbaku Dome (Atomic-Bomb Dome).
The castle was built by the strong lord in this area in 1589.
The great castle was also called "Carp Castle" as the nickname and was a well guarded castle.
The castle was demolished in 1873, but the castle tower was reserved and was designated National Treasure.
But, the great castle was destroyed by the A-bomb in 1945.
Current castle tower was rebuilt in 1958.
Iwakuni Castle (岩国城, Yamaguchi Pref.)
Iwakuni Castle is in Iwakunicity in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
It is on the top of a mountain, and there is famous "Kintai Bridge" at the foot of the mountain.
The castle was built in 1608, but was demolished in 1615.
Current castle tower was restored on the basis of the picture in those days in 1962.
Matsue Castle (松江城, Shimane Pref.)
Matsue Castle is in Matsue city and it is located near Lake Shinji.
The castle was built in 1611.
After the end of samurai period, the castle was demolished in 1871.
At that time, the rich volunteers in this area bought the castle.
So, the castle tower was preserved.
It is designated as National Treasure and is one of original 12 casles in Japan.
The moats surrounding the castle are also attractive.
Shikoku Region
Takamatsu Castle (高松城, Kagawa Pref.)
Takamatsu Castle is in Takamatsu city in Kagawa Prefecture.
It was built in 1587, but the castle tower was demolished in 1884.
It is located near Takamatsu port, and the moats of this castle are connected to the sea.
So the moats are still filled with seawater.
Marugame Castle (丸亀城, Kagawa Pref.)
Marugame Castle is in Marugame city to the west of Takamatsu city.
It was built in 1602, and it has the existing castle tower built in 1660.
The castle tower has been preserved, and was designated as National Treasure in 1943.
It is one of original 12 casles in Japan.
The castle in on the top of a hill and the stone walls around the castle are the highest in Japan.
Kochi Castle (高知城, Kochi Pref.)
Kochi Castle is in the center of Kochi city in Kochi Prefecture.
It was built in 1603, but was rebuilt in 1753 after being burnt down in 1727.
Most castles across Japan were demolished in the 1870s, but this castle was excluded from the subject of disposal fortunately.
The castle tower and some buildings are perfectly original, so they are very valuable.
Matsuyama Castle (松山城, Ehime Pref.)
Matsuyama Castle is located on a hill in the center of Matsuyama city in Ehime Prefecture.
The castle was constructed in 1602 and the castle tower was built in 1642.
After destruction by fire, current castle tower was rebuilt in 1854.
It is one of original 12 casles in Japan, and many original buildings are preserved.
Ozu Castle (大洲城, Ehime Pref.)
Ozu Castle is in Ozu city in Ehime Prefecture.
The city in the valley formed by Hiji River and the castle is by the river.
The castle town has the historic atmosphere.
The castle was built in 1331 and the castle tower was built in 1609.
It was demolished to age in 1888.
New castle tower was restored in 2004, and the castle tower can accommodate a guest as the samurai lord for the night.
Uwajima Castle (宇和島城, Ehime Pref.)
Uwajima Castle is in Uwajima city in Ehime Prefecture.
The castle was built as fort in 941, and full-scale castle was built in 1596.
it was renovated in 1671.
The castle is on a hill and the small but original castle tower still remain.
Kyushu Region
Kokura Castle (小倉城, Fukuoka Pref.)
Kokura Castle is in Kitakyushu city in Fukuoka Prefecture.
The castle was built in 1602, but it was destroyed by civil war in 1866.
The castle tower was restored based on original design in 1959.
But additional roofs and decorations were added to look more gorgeous by request of the citizens, so the style is different from the original castle tower.
Shimabara Castle (島原城, Nagasaki Pref.)
Shimabara Castle is in Shimabara city in Nagasaki Prefecture.
The castle was built in 1624.
The lord was a tyrant, so the citizens in this area rose in revolt against him in 1637.
The rebellion became the greatest civil war in the history of Japan.
Later the lord was executed by Edo Government, and new lord was transferred to this castle.
The castle was demolished in 1876, but the castle tower was restored in 1964.
Hirado Castle (平戸城, Nagasaki Pref.)
Hirado Castle is in Hirado Island near Kyushu island.
The first castle was built in 1599 and was rebuilt in 1707.
It was demolished in 1871, and was restored in 1962.
Hirado was the city where Christianity was propagated to the people for the first time in Japan in 1550s and became the place to trade with Europe.
So, we can see the castle, Christian churches and Buddhist temples in the old city.
Kitsuki Castle (杵築城, Oita Pref.)
Kitsuki Castle is by the sea in Kitsuki city in Oita Prefecture.
The castle was built in 1394, but it is unclear when the original castle tower was built.
Current castle tower was built as the museum in 1970, and it is called the smallest castle tower in Japan.
Okinawa was originally Ryukyu Kingdom founded in 1429.
Japan annexed Ryukyu in 1879, then it became Okinawa Prefecture.
In the history of Ryukyu, some castles had been built in Okinawa Island.
Because the culture is different from Japan, the type of the castle is similar to China.
Shuri Castle (首里城, Naha city)
Shuri Castle before the fire
Shuri Castle is the castle of former Ryukyu Kingdom and in in Naha city.
It was built as the King's castle around the 14th century, and it is still the symbol of Okinawa.
The castle had repeatedly been destroyed and rebuilt many times in history.
The former castle was rebuilt in 1972, after the destruction in WW2.
Unfortunately, the main castle was burnt down by electrical leakage in 2019.
It is under restoration now.