Japan travel tips: Japan’s best castles to visit at least once

Throughout Japan’s Sengoku “Warring States” period (1467-1615), castles had been constructed, bolstered and fortified all throughout the Japanese archipelago, leading to roughly 5000 particular person retains.

Although many had been razed on the behest of the Tokugawa Shogunate through the Edo interval (1603-1868) and subsequently following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, when energy was restored to the emperor, over 100 stay all through the nation at the moment.

Listed here are a few of Japan’s greatest castles you could nonetheless go to.

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Hirosaki Fort

Surmounting a hill in Aomori prefecture, within the coronary heart of Japan’s deep north, sits Hirosaki Fort; a tiered preserve surrounded by yaruga (turrets) and fortified moats.

With development ending in 1611, the citadel was constructed as Japan was getting into a chronic interval of peace below the Tokugawa Shogunate, and as such, by no means bore the brunt of siege or invasion.

The unique five-story tenshu (fundamental preserve) was destroyed, nevertheless, after it was struck by lightning in 1627, being changed within the early Nineteenth-century by the three-story construction seen at the moment.

Alongside the placing feudal structure, spring sakura (cherry blossom) season is a serious draw for travellers to Hirosaki Fort. Greater than 2600 sakura bushes dot the citadel gardens, scattering their petals throughout the adjoining lawns and moats each spring.

Shuri-jo Fort

Elevated above Naha Metropolis and surrounded by brooding, fortified partitions, Okinawa’s Shuri-jo Fort is emblematic of the gusuku citadel type of the outdated Ryukyu Kingdom (the previous identify of Okinawa).

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Its development defies the architectural blueprint of castles seen elsewhere in Japan, with a royal picket citadel of wealthy vermillion, emblazoned with dragons and Chinese language iconography — which trace at Okinawa’s pre-nation-state influences.

When Shuri-jo was first constructed within the 14th century, it was the seat of energy within the Ryukyu Kingdom till Japan annexed the Okinawa islands in 1879. Earlier than it was uncared for below imperial rule, it served as the dominion’s centre of diplomacy, governance and spirituality for hundreds of years.

Although it was restored and finally designated a UNESCO World Heritage web site, Shuri Fort was tragically destroyed in a big fireplace in 2019. Reconstruction is presently underway with a view to faithfully restoring the primary buildings as soon as extra by 2026.

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Edo Fort

Edo Fort, bearing the previous identify of Tokyo, has one of many longest lineages of all Japan’s castles. A fortified palace was first erected on the location through the Heian interval (794-1185). The samurai Ota Dokan then designed a fortress to interchange the palace in 1457, earlier than influential daimyo (feudal lord) Tokugawa Ieyasu subsumed management within the late sixteenth century.

This acted because the catalyst for sweeping architectural renovations and large city enlargement, turning Edo from a small, fortified village to the de facto capital of the nation, embodied by the grand citadel at its centre level.

Edo Fort was big in its prime, surrounded by a 15-kilometre outer moat crossed by over 30 gates and bridges.

Remnants of the unique buildings may be discovered all through Tokyo, although the Imperial Palace, dwelling of the present emperor, is the very best place to get a way of its former glory. Sections of the grounds are off-limits, however the pristine Imperial Palace East Gardens are open to the strolling public.

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Matsumoto Fort

Constructed within the sixteenth century on the behest of Japan’s “Nice Unifier”, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the black-walled Matsumoto Fort juxtaposes towards the snow-crowned Northern Alps encircling Matsumoto Metropolis.

Often known as Karasu-jo (the Crow Fort), it was largely spared destruction and retains one of many nation’s oldest extant retains.

Matsumoto Fort reveals the structure of each battle and peace, from its steep picket stairs, hidden internal ranges and archer’s perches to the moon-viewing room added in 1630, which additionally provides a vantage level for viewing the brocaded carps and geese residing within the citadel moat.

On winter nights the citadel hosts an illumination occasion, throwing its glowing reflection throughout the moat’s floor.

Nagoya Fort

In Aichi’s thriving capital metropolis, Nagoya, you may discover the eponymous Nagoya Fort, whose regal towers overlook the gardens and moats beneath.

Upon instruction from the Shogun, Nagoya Fort was constructed as an administrative centre through the early Edo interval, following an period of almost 150 years of interstate warfare. Battle would come for the citadel a lot later when it was destroyed in bombing raids throughout World Conflict II. However restoration efforts have captured the essence of its medieval heyday.

Nagoya Fort is famend for the magnificent golden shachihoko (tiger-like fish) protruding from its zenith — as soon as incomes it the epithet Kin-jo (Golden Fort) — and its sloping mint inexperienced roofs.

It isn’t presently potential to enter the primary preserve, because it does not meet fashionable earthquake-resistance requirements, although continued renovations over the subsequent few years purpose to make it match for function by 2028.

Osaka Fort

Osaka Fort is one among Japan’s most well-known landmarks, enjoying a pivotal function within the end result of the Sengoku period. Upon unifying Japan in 1590, samurai Toyotomi Hideyoshi appeared to increase upon his base fortress in Osaka pushed by a need to outdo his former lord, Oda Nobunaga.

His efforts to create an unassailable defence had been posthumously thwarted, nevertheless, when the citadel fell to the Tokugawa Clan in 1615.

The five-story Osaka Fort, a recreation of the unique preserve (which was destroyed on a number of events), is constructed on stable cyclopean foundations, with mint inexperienced roof tiles and golden accoutrements that bear placing similarities with Nagoya Fort.

Inside you may discover a walk-through museum detailing the fraught political historical past of the area and the assorted samurai who claimed it as their dwelling. The exhibition culminates in a 360-degree viewpoint on the highest flooring.

Nijo Fort

Nijo Fort was the official residence of the Shogun through the Edo interval — although the succession of navy rulers would spend most of their time ruling from the seat of energy in Edo (now Tokyo).

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Following the Meiji Restoration, the citadel turned an imperial palace earlier than it was opened to the general public as a historic web site.

The squat, hirajiro (flatland) citadel has most of the trappings of Japanese feudal structure: a large perimeter moat, an imposing karamon (entry gate), concentric sections separated by bolstered stone partitions and squeaking “nightingale” floorboards to detect intruders.

You may stroll by means of a lot of the citadel grounds at the moment, whereas audio guides in a number of languages can be found on the entrance.

Inuyama Fort

Inuyama Fort is important for having the oldest authentic tenshu (fortified tower) in Japan, courting again to 1580, and is one among solely 5 citadel retains to have Nationwide Treasure standing.

It was additionally the primary fortress owned outright by the bloodthirsty tyrant who first tried to unify Japan, Oda Nobunaga.

Inuyama Fort’s strategic hilltop location supplied its resident samurai with sprawling views of the encircling plains and the turbulent Kiso River at its base. Immediately, vacationers to the location profit from this jaw-dropping viewpoint, which now casts its gaze over the encircling cities and forests.

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Hikone Fort

Although Hikone Fort in Shiga prefecture is a relatively unassuming construction, it is important in that its fundamental preserve (which has been designated a Nationwide Treasure) and most of the surrounding buildings stay intact.

That is partly resulting from its completion in 1622, after the Tokugawa Shogunate had established peace throughout the nation, and its location in a comparatively obscure stretch of western Japan.

Viewpoints from the hilltop citadel look in the direction of Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest inland physique of water, which engulfs the centre of the prefecture. There’s additionally a Hikone Fort Museum on the foot of the hill, showcasing artifacts and historic documentation from the Ii Clan that established the fortress some 400 years in the past.

Bicchu Matsuyama Fort

The Thirteenth-century Bicchu Matsuyama Fort, perched above quiet Takahashi Metropolis in Okayama prefecture, is considered Japan’s authentic yamajiro (mountain citadel). At 430 meters (1,400 ft) above sea degree — the best elevation for any citadel in Japan — would-be invaders had been required to slog uphill by means of dense shrubbery and a volley of projectiles simply to alight upon the citadel gates.

The hike at the moment, better-worn than within the medieval period and freer of inbound arrows, ought to be achievable for anybody with a reasonable degree of health. It is definitely value breaking a sweat for views of the undulating Okayama countryside from the citadel ramparts or unkai (seas of clouds) floating above the valley on spring and autumn mornings.

Himeji Fort

Himeji Fort’s nickname, “Fort of the White Heron”, hints on the poetic magnificence of its storied preserve: the multitiered, pearly white edifice soars excessive above the low-lying Himeji Metropolis.

Its origins date again to the early 1300s, after which it underwent a number of acquisitions and remodelling efforts by the hands of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu and several other different daimyo, respectively. It has additionally remained largely intact all through its 700-year historical past, surviving a number of current atrocities, from aerial bombs within the Forties to the 1995 Nice Hanshin Earthquake.

These components helped Himeji Fort turn out to be Japan’s first-ever UNESCO World Heritage Website.

Moreover, the citadel is the situation of Okiku’s Nicely, the place the eponymous servant’s ghost is claimed to reside. The effectively owes its infamy to the folktale Bancho Sarayashiki, which subsequently impressed the horror movie Ringu (1998) and its Hollywood adaptation The Ring (2002).

Matsue Fort

Constructed within the early 1600s close to the shores of Lake Shinji, Matsue Fort is likely one of the solely remaining retains on Japan’s central western coast.

Its authentic function was to assist the brand new shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, consolidate his energy within the largely provincial area. Immediately, its imposing black partitions and gray, tiered roofs stand sentinel over a bottle-green perimeter moat within the coronary heart of Matsue’s outdated quarter.

Throughout the road from the citadel, you may discover nods to Matsue’s most prized cultural asset: the Lafcadio Hearn Museum and his former residence. A Nineteenth-century writer of Irish-Greek heritage, Hearn ascended into the pantheon of Japanese literary heritage as a cultural essayist and a grasp re-teller of native folktales.

Kumamoto Fort

Constructed by native daimyo Kato Kiyomasa within the early 1600s, Kumamoto Fort stays one of the crucial spectacular feats of pre-modern structure on the island of Kyushu (although most of its buildings are actually ferroconcrete rebuilds).

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Uncommon for Japanese castles, its wartime historical past prolonged past the Edo interval and into the Meiji Restoration period, when native samurai rebelled towards the brand new authorities, resulting in a two-month siege in 1877.

Following a serious earthquake in 2016 and a subsequent five-year renovation interval, Kumamoto Fort’s fundamental preserve was reopened to the general public in 2021. The citadel’s outer partitions, constructed from stern igneous rock, and the black-walled preserve stand in stark distinction to the 800 cherry blossom bushes that paint its gardens pink every spring.

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