Best Castles In Japan

410 Years Since Building! A Beautiful & Wise National Treasure Overlooking Lake BiwaHikone Castle

Hikone Castle has a relation with Ii family. It's hard to be invaded and easy to use, so we can find wisdom everywhere in the castle. The historical interior is also the highlight. What is more, the castle seen from Genkyu-en Garden in the same site is so gorgeous that I can say it has both beauty and strength.◎Access: 10min by car from 'Hikone IC' of Meishin Highway. Or, 10min walk from JR Hikone Station. Available time: 8:30-17:00

A Beautiful Osaka Castle Seen From A Japanese GardenOsaka Castle

A Japanese garden located in the same site of Osaka Castle is known to only a few people. The castle seen from the Japanese garden is more beautiful, and what's more, you can see the reflected castle in the pond. It's a must-visit place when you come to Osaka Castle.

It is Called 'Shirasagi, a White Egret Castle' That is The First World Heritage in Japan and Regains a White Figure After RepairedHimeji Castle

The world heritage 'Himeji Castle' regains it's original beautiful white figure after a long time repairing. Japan boasts the unprecedented beautiful castle.

The Imabari Castle Illuminated Every Night as Symbol of ImabariImabari Castle

The Imabari castle is illuminated in warm-color and looks like floating. Of course, it's also good in daytime.

Summer Pure Flowers Famous As The Best In The EastTakada Park

Takada Park is famous for cherry blossoms. In summer, you can see the lotus flowers at the whole moat, that is said to be the best in the East. On the refreshing summer morning, leaves and flowers repelling water could make you more refreshing. During the cool morning is the golden time to see the lotus flowers.◎Access: 10 min from Joetsu-takada IC, 10 min from Joetsu IC by car Event: Lotus Flower Festival is held in July

Snow & Fall Foliage We Can See Only Between Autumn And WinterHirosaki Castle

In November, the temperature drops in this season, the snow sheets the fall foliage and make them more beautiful, special scenery. You can see the collaboration of autumn leaves and snow only in the area which has an early snow!

General Kato Kiyomasa's Beautiful CastleKumamoto Castle

Beautiful, that adjective is apt for this historical architecture.

A Fine View Of Kochi Town From A DonjonKochi Castle

There're many exhibitions on each floor, and you can get the fine view of Kochi town from the castle top.

Cherry Blossoms At Marugame Castle Famous For The Highest Stone Walls In JapanMarugame Castle

Marugame Castle is famous for the highest and beautiful stone walls. And it's also known as a cherry blossom viewing spot whose castle tower is surrounded with pink blossoms. Many people come to enjoy hanami party. Don't miss the outlook over the sea!◎Parking area is available near the castle. By the way, the stone wall is the highest, but the castle tower is the smallest in Japan.

The Hiroshima Castle with a lot of minus ions that is One of Japan's Top 100 CastlesHiroshima Castle

The Hiroshima castle which is one of Japan's top 100 castles is near the Hiroshima station and beautiful large ground with many trees and minus ions.

Weighs About 88 Kg!　Shining 'Golden Shachihoko'Nagoya Castle

Very Impressive pair of Shachihoko which is 2.5 meters long. Standing calmly near the urban district of public offices, Nagoya Castle was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu as the last preparation to conquer the whole country. Night illumination exaggerates the beauty of its white walls.

Beautiful Illumination Of Cherry Blossoms And Matsumae Castle Matsumae Park

For there're various kinds of cherry blossoms including rare ones, early-boom, and late-bloom ones, you can enjoy them for a long term. The collaboration of cherry blossom and Matsumae Castle is very beautiful like a piece of painting! They're lit up at night, and become more wonderful scene. ◎Matsumae Park has many kinds of cherry blossom, so it becomes its best to see later than Hakodate. By the way, Matsumae has a long distance from Hakodate, and takes about three hours. You can use car or bus to access here.

Magnificent Sea Of Clouds And Existing Castle TowerBicchu Matsuyama Castle

Bicchu Matsuyama Castle can be folded in magnificent sea of clouds on autumn day with big difference in temperature. From an observatory located a neighboring mountain, you can see its existing castle tower, which has been protected for hundreds of years, floating in the sea of clouds.◎Bicchu Matsuyama Castle Observatory is located at the mountain next to the castle. I went there by car, but you can use also 'Unkai Taxi' from Bicchu-takahasi Station in this season (resavation only).

Everyone Thinks 'Beautiful'. The Night Cherry Blossoms At A National Treasure, Matsumoto CastleMatsumoto Castle

Matsumoto Castle has different appearances in each season. The castle tower is illuminated throughout the year. And a season of cherry blossoms is going to start now. The bright castle tower in the darkest sky, and cherry trees around the moat are so beautiful that you may forget the time.◎Admission for the castle tower: adult ￥610, child ￥300. Access: 15 minutes walk from JR Matsumoto Station. Illumination starts after the cherry trees come into blossom.

Unknown But Great Spot In Himeji! A Theme Park You Can Feel Like Traveling In The WorldTaiyo Park

Taiyo Park is managed by a social welfare corporation. The highlights are Terracotta Army replicas authorized by Chinese Government, and Great Wall of China as long as 2km, and so on! There're many other world heritages and architectures exhibited, and it's interesting to find different degrees of accomplishment between each works!◎There're stone area with various architectures and castle area with trick arts. A Neuschwanstein Castle is also one of the highlughts! Entrance fee: 1300yen Opening hours: 9:00-1700 (regular holiday is indefinite)

Cherry Blossoms & A Gallant Castle Tower With Red Bricks Admired As A Symbol Of Aizu WakamatsuTsuruga Castle

I enjoyed seeing cherry blossoms and a gallant castle tower against the background of blue sky and illuminated night sky. I want to come again next year, too.◎Tsuruga Castle Cherry Blossom Festival 4/6-5/5

A Japanese Garden Of Illuminated Autumn Colors, Taking Hikone Castle In One Sight Genkyu-en Garden

Genkyu-en is a Daimyo Garden (gardens built by the lords of each region of Japan in Edo Period) belonged to the old Hikone Clan. The scenery of lighted Japanese garden with Hikone Castle, one of the five castles of national treasure, was very fantastic and worth seeing so much.◎15 min walk from Hikone Station. The parking area is available, but the night is dark, so be careful when you park a car.

A Deep Red World HeritageShuri Castle

Ryukyu Kingdom's symbolic building. Its deep red gives a strong impression against the background of the blue sky in Okinawa. You must-see spot in Okinawa.

A Cinderella Castle In Disney LandTokyo Disneyland

A Cinderella Castle makes me feel I'm here in Disney Land. It's a landmark of 51meters high.

A Beautiful Donjon Of A Mountain CastleSumoto Castle

Surprisingly it was built in 1928, although it's an imitation donjon. And the oldest one in Japan. On the way to there, you can see the historical stone wall and at the top, there is a nice scenery waiting you.

Special Cherry Blossoms At Inui-dori Street In The Imperial Palace, You Can't See UsuallyImperial Palace

People usually can't enter this area called Inui-dori Street in the Imperial Palace. But, spring of cherry blossom and autumn of colored leaves are exceptions! It has opened to public since 2014, and then, almost every year. ◎Enter from Sakashita-mon Gate, pass through Imperial Household Agency building, and walk along Inui Street. There're no parking areas, so you should use the public transportation. Every year, many people visit here, so you probably can't take pictures like this (because I took these pics from the head of crowded line!). You need to undergo a security check, it's better to go with minimum baggage. This special open is also a chance to see the site of Edo Castle you can't see generally.

A Dam Like An European Old CastleHonenike Pond

Located at Kan'onji City, Hounen-ike Dam is an Important Cultural Asset and its landscape like an European old castle is popular as a tourist spot. The discharge with roar is very impressive!◎Surrounded with beautiful seasonal scenery, you can look the dam from both its top and foot. The irregular discharge has become a popular event.

Once A Stage Of Rapidly Changing Sengoku Battles! A Beautiful And Gallant Figure Facing To Kiso RiverInuyama Castle

In the history of Inuyaka Castle, many famous Sengoku generals come onstage such as Oda, Toyotomi, Tokugawa and so on! A sidewalk of Kiso River is a little-known but good place to take pictures of it seen like a isolated castle standing on a mountain. It was very nice for 'A Party Taking Inuyama Pictures' who are well aware of the castle (a man wearing a yellow T-shirt) to entertain the visitors in a live way!

After 'Great Repairs In Heisei Era', The New Donjon As A Symbol Of Castle Town OdawaraOdawara Castle

May 1st, 2016, Odawara Castle's renewal opening comes round. It has a connection with Hojo Soun and every May 3rd holds a festival 'Hojo Godai'. In the sight, there's a Children Amusement Park, it's also a place of recreation and relaxation for families.

100 Best Castles In Japan. A Magnificent View Of A Castle With The SeaMatsuyama Castle

It's located in the central of Matsuyama with the easy access, and going up on the lift would be one of the attractions. I was very surprised at the beauty of the keep, that only twelve keeps remained in Japan. It's one of the best 100 castles in Japan, but the very best one among them.