Top 10 recommended Castles to visit in Japan

Japan is full of beautiful Castle, most build originally in the Sengo or Edo period but most have had to be rebuild or restoed after wars and ofcourse because of how old they are. But even if they are not in there original structure they are breath taking, the sights of them from the outside and from inside. You can only think how attackers would feel overwhelmed when seeing the stone walls and the castle behind them. Here are the top 10 Castles that you should try and visit while in Japan, some of these castls include the Himeji Castle, Edo castle or as it is currently known the Imperial Palace, Matsue Castle and Kumamoto Castle.

Imperial Palace

The Imperial Palace was once called the Edo Castle. It has been the residence of the Emperor since the Meiji Era. It is located in central Tokyo, but there is a tranquility within the palace grounds.

Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle was built by Toyotomi Hidetoshi in 1583. However, it was destroyed in a fire at the same time as his death. It was rebuilt before being destroyed by fire again in 1665. The modern Osaka Castle was rebuilt using contributions from local citizens, after an appeal was made by the mayor of Osaka at that time.

Himeji Castle

A valuable castle that has survived since the early Edo Era. Himeji Castle is admired as the most beautiful castle in Japan. It is famous as one of the three great castles in the nation.

Kumamoto Castle

A castle built making skillful use of the surrounding topography. There are also some surviving remnants of the old castle town. The underlying shade of black on the exterior of Kumamoto Castle is symbolic.

Gifu Castle (Mt. Kinka Ropeway)

Gifu Castle has been occupied by military commanders such as Dosan Saito and Nobunaga Oda. From the castle keep, a panoramic view of the city of Gifu and Ise Bay can be seen in the distance. It is also famous for its night view.

Kochi Castle

A famed castle known for its spectacular view of the keep from the main gate. It is a valuable cultural asset with a 400-year history, which survived many crises during that time.

Matsue Castle

There are many ways to enjoy the castle. See the interior that was designed for war, the 360 degree panoramic view from the top floor, and tour the Horikawa moat on a small boat. It is also one of Japan’s Top 100 Places for Cherry Blossoms.

Nagoya Castle

Nagoya Castle was the final castle built for the Tokugawa clan to unify the whole country. Restoration is still ongoing after the castle was burned down during the war.

Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto Castle, a National Treasure, has a castle tower that has existed since the 16th century. You can see the many defenses that have been devised against enemies for this castle built upon a plain.

Okayama Castle

Okayama Castle was constructed in 1597 by daimyo Hideie Ukita. The black siding on the walls of the castle tower gave the castle in those days a distinctive appearance. The current tower is a restoration built in 1966. The interior of the castle has been made into a museum where you can also try on some kimono for free.