The 100 Most Iconic Castles in Japan

A symbolic list

The Japan Castle Foundation is a Japanese organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the country's castle heritage. It has drawn up the list of "100 emblematic castles of Japan" (日本100名城), which groups together sites of importance to the country's history and architecture.

It includes castles with original keeps but also reconstructed and ruined buildings of varying sizes and shapes.

The aim of this selection is both cultural and touristic. It aims to encourage the discovery of this heritage while raising public awareness of its preservation. Today, the list is popular with history buffs and travelers alike.

As with railway stations, each castle on the list has a stamp to collect. The Japanese are very fond of these "stamp rallies," which can also be found at tourist attractions, museums and festivals.

As with pilgrimages, some people set themselves the challenge of visiting all the castles on the list and completing their stamp book. A great idea for a quest on your next trip to Japan!

Unlike many castles rebuilt in the 20th century, the Matsumoto Castle retains much of its original structure.

The interior of the keep can be visited today: the various rooms provide an insight into the building's defensive organization, as well as a number of exhibitions devoted to military history.
The upper floors offer a panoramic view of the city, with the Japanese Alps in the background.

In spring, you can see the cherry blossoms along the moat.

Rebuilt in the 20th century, the current keep dominates the small town of Odawara and houses a museum dedicated to the history of the castle and the region.

The keep is relatively small, but well worth a visit, not least for the view from the top.

Built close to the coast, you can see the peninsula of Enoshima and even Mount Fuji on a clear day!

Easily accessible from Tokyo, the site makes an interesting stopover on an excursion to Hakone for example.

The castle's distinguishing features include its extensive stone ramparts and fortified gates, as well as the characteristic use of lead-coated tiles, designed to withstand the region's climatic conditions.

Visitors can stroll through the wide open spaces of the enclosure and discover several restored buildings, including former warehouses and wooden defensive pavilions.

Together with the famous Kenroku-en, considered one of Japan's most beautiful gardens, it forms one of Kanazawa's most popular sites.

4. Inuyama Castle

Located in Aichi Prefecture, overlooking the Kiso River, Inuyama Castle is one of the oldest Japanese castles still preserved in its original form. Its 16th-century wooden keep is a national treasure and one of the few authentic examples to have survived the passage of time.

From the top floor, the castle offers beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. The interior has been preserved and offers a good impression of what the castle might have been like in its original state.

The surrounding area also retains a pleasant historic atmosphere, with traditional shopping streets, cafés and several old merchant houses.

The main keep was rebuilt in concrete in the 1950s.
In recent years, however, major efforts have been made to restore parts of the site using traditional techniques, notably the Honmaru Palace, remarkable for its paintings, decorated panels and refined interiors.

Surrounded by vast gardens and a moat, the castle remains one of the city's most important historic sites.

Unlike most Japanese castles designed for defense, Nijô is distinguished above all by the refinement of its residential buildings. 
Ninomaru Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Kyoto's historic monuments, is famous for its finely decorated interiors, such as painted sliding doors, wood carvings and luxurious reception rooms.

The castle is also famous for its "nightingale floors," designed to creak at the slightest step to prevent intrusion.

8. Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle is one of Japan's most emblematic castles. It was built in the late 16th century by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the country's great unifiers.

Rebuilt several times over the centuries, the present-day keep still dominates the city, with its white and green facade adorned with gold detailing.
The interior now houses a museum retracing the history of the castle, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the great battles that shaped feudal Japan. From the upper floors, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Osaka and its modern districts.

Nicknamed the "White Heron Castle" because of its white plaster walls, it boasts an elegant, harmonious silhouette.

Its keep, surrounded by several interconnected buildings, can be visited. Its internal wooden structures are still maintained in their original state.

It is one of the few Japanese castles to have survived the centuries without major destruction, which is why many Japanese consider it to be the most beautiful castle in the country.

The interior of the keep, built entirely of wood, reveals the original structures, steep staircases and various defensive devices used in feudal times.
From the top floor, visitors enjoy a sweeping view of the city's rooftops, moat and lake.

It is possible to take a tour of the moat aboard a traditional boat. The adjoining park features several shrines and gardens, pleasant to visit in spring and summer.

In the same area, the Yushien Japanese Garden and the Izumo Shrine, one of the country's most important shrines, are the main tourist attractions nearby.

14. Kumamoto Castle

Located on the island of Kyushu, Kumamoto Castle was built in the early 17th century as an impregnable fortress. Its impressive stone ramparts still bear witness to this ambition.

It played a major role in a number of historical conflicts, including the last samurai revolt in the 19th century. Seriously damaged by the 2016 earthquakes, the main buildings are now open to visitors.

It is distinguished by its richly decorated red buildings, monumental gates and curved stone walls typical of gusuku, the historic fortresses of the Ryukyu.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Shuri Castle was severely damaged during the war and by a major fire in 2019. The latest reconstruction is almost complete, with completion scheduled for the end of 2026.

Visitors can now explore the ramparts, the restored gates and the large main pavilion.

Reduced to ruins, it is now famous for the " sea of clouds " that forms around the site, earning it the nickname "castle in the sky".

For the best chance of observing this phenomenon, opt for the months of October/November, and get to the summit just before daybreak !

Otherwise, the ritsuunkyo viewpoint on the other side of the valley is also very popular.