Discover Japan's Hidden Gems

Explore temples, shrines, castles, parks, and more

Kumamoto Castle

© Birdman at Japanese Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Castle
Kumamoto

Kumamoto Castle

One of Japan's Three Premier Castles

Under restoration after the 2016 and July 2026 earthquakes. The main tower has reopened, but chec...

Kumamoto, Japan
Okayama Castle

© 663highland / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5)

Castle
Okayama

Okayama Castle

The Crow Castle, Okayama's Black Fortress

A striking black castle nicknamed 'Crow Castle' for its dark exterior, standing across the Asahi ...

Okayama, Japan
Matsue Castle photo
Castle
Shimane

Matsue Castle

A National Treasure known as the 'Black Castle', one of only 12 original castles and the sole sur...

Matsue, Shimane, Japan
Matsuyama Castle

© Yamaguchi Yoshiaki from Japan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Castle
Ehime

Matsuyama Castle

One of Japan's 12 original castles, this hilltop fortress offers sweeping views over Matsuyama an...

Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
Matsumoto Castle photo
Castle
Nagano

Matsumoto Castle

Japan's Premier Black Castle

One of Japan's five National Treasure castles, famous for its striking black exterior and alpine ...

Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan
Nijo Castle

Photo: ほっきー / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Castle World Heritage
Kyoto

Nijo Castle

UNESCO World Heritage flatland castle. The floors squeak when you walk, designed as a security al...

Kyoto, Japan
Hikone Castle

© Martin Falbisoner / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Castle
Shiga

Hikone Castle

A National Treasure castle near Lake Biwa, one of only five castles with an original keep designa...

Hikone, Shiga, Japan
Osaka Castle

© 663highland / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5)

Castle
Osaka

Osaka Castle

Symbol of Osaka

One of Japan's most famous landmarks, a reconstructed castle housing a museum about the unificati...

Osaka, Japan
Kochi Castle

Photo: Saigen Jiro / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Castle
Kochi

Kochi Castle

One of just 12 original castles, Kochi is the only castle in Japan to retain both its original to...

Kochi, Japan
Himeji Castle

© Nikos Kitsakis / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Castle World Heritage
Hyogo

Himeji Castle

Japan's Most Spectacular Castle

Japan's best preserved feudal castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the White Heron Castl...

Himeji, Hyogo, Japan
Iga-Ueno Castle photo
Castle
Mie

Iga-Ueno Castle

Rising above the legendary birthplace of ninja culture, Iga-Ueno Castle has Japan's tallest stone...

Mie, Japan
Sumoto Castle Ruins photo
Castle
Hyogo

Sumoto Castle Ruins

Hilltop Castle Ruins with Panoramic Views of the Seto Inland Sea

A hilltop castle ruin on Awaji Island with Japan's oldest remaining concrete-built tenshu replica...

Sumoto, Hyogo, Japan
Nagoya Castle photo
Castle
Aichi

Nagoya Castle

Castle with golden shachi roof ornaments and a faithfully reconstructed Honmaru Palace.

Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
The Ōshoin, Sasayama Castle's great hall, rebuilt in 2000, under autumn clouds
Castle
Hyogo

Sasayama Castle

Sasayama Castle and the Ōshoin: Hours, Tickets and Parking

The stone walls and moats of a castle built in 1609 on Tokugawa Ieyasu's orders, and the Ōshoin, ...

Tamba-Sasayama, Hyogo, Japan
Castle
Fukuoka

Kokura Castle

Kokura Castle - Edo-Period Castle with Unique Architecture

An Edo-period castle in the heart of Kitakyushu, notable for its distinctive karazukuri architect...

Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan