City: Japan
Top Things to do in Japan
Top Hotels in Japan
- 1. Hotel Universal Port Vita
- 2. Hotel Universal Port
- 3. Hotel Nikko Osaka
- 4. Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel Tokyo
- 5. Hotel Nikko Alivila Yomitan Resort Okinawa
- 6. Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shinmachi Bettei
- 7. Mitsui Garden Hotel Prana Tokyo Bay
- 8. Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu
- 9. The Park Front Hotel at Universal Studios Japan
- 10. The Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Haneda
The 10 Best Castles in Japan, Japan
Coordinates: 35°N 136°E / 35°N 136°E / 35; 136
Restaurants in Japan
1. Inuyama Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,034 reviews
Reviewed By 661vincet - Makati, Philippines
We visited Inuyama Castle last year. While it is currently undergoing renovations (for the next few months it seems), I decided to share our experiences for readers thinking about adding it to their future trips. And, yes, Inuyama Castle, one of the few original Japanese castles designated as a National Treasure, is definitely worth the visit! It is quite a lovely sight up on the hill. Entering the main keep of wood and stone was a memorable experience that provided insights on the castle's function in Japan's past. The climb around the keep's floors, and up to the very top provided a great view of the castle compound, Kiso River, the city and the mountains in the distance. With the assistance provided by the wonderful local volunteer guides (English was available during our visit, check for their availability at the ticket gate) we certainly got to appreciate this castle all the more.
2. Matsumoto Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,584 reviews
Reviewed By phale12017
When l was told we were visiting a a castle, grey blocks of stone came to mind( l clearly wasn’t thinking logically) I was amazed to see this massive, towering wooden structure before me! Yes Japanese castles are made from wood. They have moats and tiny narrow windows for firing weapons out of and other familiar features but l have to say they are quite different from the English versions. They have a hidden extra floor that you cannot see from outside, this is just one unfamiliar feature! We were put into groups of 5 or less and shown round by retirees who were practicing their English, what a wonderful idea! Our guide was very amusing!! A word of warning, there are lots of steps inside, some of them steep! But make the effort, it’s well worth it!!
3. Himeji Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,324 reviews
Built in the beginning of the 17th century when Japan's unique castle architectural techniques had reached their peak, Himeji Castle was the first in Japan to be registered as a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage in 1993 as well as designated as a National Treasure in 1951. It is called "Hakuro-jo" (White Heron Castle) because of its brilliant white exterior and supposed resemblance to a white heron taking flight. Q1. Can I use a credit card? A1. Yes, you can. We accept major credit cards like VISA, MasterCard, AMEX, Diners and JCB. Q2. Do you have a coin operated locker? A2. Yes we do, but the number and kind of them are limited, so you had better use the ones in Himeji station. The biggest size is 1135H x 350W x 640D(mm). Q3. When is peak season? A3. Our peak is usually around late March to early April for cherry blossoms, late April to early May for Japanese Holiday Season so called 'Golden Week', and October and November for travel season for Japanese. Q4. When do I have to arrive to avoid congestion? A4. 15 to 30 minutes prior to opening time (9am (8am-8:30am for peak season)). Q5. How long does it take to walk around the castle? A5. Normally, it takes at least 90 minutes to explore the castle, but you can try to go up and down with no stop in 45 minutes.
Reviewed By v1kk1ta - Puerto Rico, Caribbean
Himeji Castle also known as White Heron Castle due to its elegant, white appearance, is widely considered as Japan's most spectacular castle for its imposing size and beauty and its well preserved, complex castle grounds. One of the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
4. Matsuyama Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,011 reviews
Reviewed By BendigoVic - Victoria, Australia
We throughly enjoyed our time spent at Matsuyama Castle, its a long climb but certainly well worth it when you get there and the views are spectacular. The castle remains in its original state which is astonishing given it was built in the 1600s, Just getting there on the chair lift or the cable car is an adventure in itself if you have young children. Its a must visit if you are in the area.
5. Kumamoto Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,704 reviews
Reviewed By dlnun - Nebraska, United States
We spent an afternoon with an English guide from the Kumamoto SGG Club—-Mieko Okada who was our personal guide at the Kumamoto Castle & to the Suizenji Jojuen Gardens. If you go to Kumamoto these two sights should be at the top of your list of things to see & places to go. Hopefully in the next few months more of the reconstruction will allow for an actual tour of the castle, but the grounds, walls, and views were amazing none the less.
6. Matsue Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,499 reviews
Matsue symbol Matsue Castle is said to be one of the national treasures and one of the only orthodox towers among the 12 towers that exist throughout the country. Matsue Castle can be proud, please enjoy.
Reviewed By jeffreygalino - Hiroshima, Japan
If you are into history and culture, you should visit this castle. The structure is still in its original form. It looks unique compared to other Japanese castles for its black color. Discounted ticket price is given to foreigners. A panoramic view of Matsue City is seen from top.
7. Katsuren Castle Ruins
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 566 reviews
Reviewed By PangL103
Easy climb to the top with greenery all along the way. Good view of the ocean with many photo spots. Can imagine the grandeur of the castle in its heyday.
8. Yamanaka Castle Ruins
9. Naegi Castle Ruins
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 98 reviews
A short distance from Nakatsugawa Station stands the ruins of Naegi Castle constructed 400 years ago and once home to the prominent Toyama Family. At the top of the complex,visitors can find a wellplaced observation tower,which offers an astounding view of the Nakatsugawa landscape as well as Kiso River.
10. Kochi Castle
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,164 reviews
Constructed in the 1600s, this castle was originally named Otakasaka after the hill on which it resides. Built to defend the city below, the structure was partially damaged by a fire in the early 1700s but never faced a formal attack.
Reviewed By E608NLgregm - Toronto, Canada
The review “Day Trip to Kochi/Kochi Castle from Cruise Port in Kochi” posted by donavan94563 on Trip Advisor on July 31, 2016 was excellent. It layout a great itinerary with lots of background information for a “Do It Yourself” ¾ day shore excursion while your cruise ship is docked in Kochi City. We followed Donavan’s suggestions when we went there during our August 2018 cruise on the Diamond Princess and had a wonderful time. I just want to update his review with some of our own experience and to include a map of the area to help you with your orientation. First, there was no free shuttle from the port to the city. Diamond Princess charged U$10 per person for the shuttle. Our Princess shuttle drop-off was in Dentetsutaminarubiru Mae Station which is almost directly across from the Kochi Yosakoi Information Exchange Cente. From there, it was about a 20-minute walk to the Kochi Castle. After we got off the shuttle, we crossed the street to visit Harimaya Bridge. It is not a big bridge, but has a couple of love stories associated with it. The Harimaya Bridge appears in “Yosakoi-bushi,” a traditional folk song in Kochi Prefecture. The lyrics partly read: “I saw a monk buy a hairpin near the Harimaya Bridge in Kochi of Tosa…” It was a love story between Junshin, a priest of the Chikurin-ji temple on Godaisan (Mt. Godai) in the eastern part of Kochi City, and Ouma, daughter of a tinker, set in an area around the Harimaya Bridge. The second story was a 2009 film “The Harimaya Bridge” made by American filmmaker Aeron Woolfolk. It was a story about an American man who traveled to rural Japan after his estranged son died there in a traffic accident. While there, he discovered some secrets his son left behind. It was a film about racism, forbidden love and forgiveness. Just around the corner of the Harimaya Bridge was the entrance to the covered Obiyamachi Ichibangai Shopping Street帯屋町 and the Hirome Ichica market ひろめ市場. The shopping street is wide, clean and pleasant with many stores on both sides. One of the stores that we enjoyed shopping in Japan was the Daiso 1,000 yen store. Unlike Canadian and US Dollar Stores, the merchandise in Daiso are of quite good quality. Unless otherwise marked, all items are 1,000 yens. I especially like its cosmetic bags which I use to store my various electrical and camera stuff (chargers, adapters, batteries, flash memory sticks, memory cards, etc.) and packing cubes and shore bags (in the top floor) . These cubes or bags are great for packing, organizing and storing clothes in your suitcase while you travel. The zipper quality is not the greatest; but at 1,000 yen for a small cube and 1,800 yen for a medium one, they were great bargains. Hirome Market was an interesting food court with more than 60 stalls selling a wide variety of local food, including seafood and wagyu beef. One thing not to be missed is the Katsuo tataki,明神丸, or skip jack cod loin seared with straw fire. The market gets busy during lunch. We had lunch there, but finding an empty table was quite a challenge. Just across the street on the other exit of Hirome Market is the Kochi Castle. Before crossing the street, we found a number of hardware stores selling nail clippers, kitchen shears and knives. Japan is renowned for its high quality steel. The nail clippers were our prized souvenirs. Kochi sits on the broad alluvial plain facing Urado Bay. This city in Shikoku takes its name from the great feudal castle that sits at its very heart. Completed in 1611, Kochi Castle was the seat of Yamauchi Kazutoyo 山内一豊, a noted warrior who supported Tokugawa Ieyasu 德川家康 in his successful quest to become Shogun. Tosa Province and Kochi Castle were Yamauchi's reward for faithful service. There is an historical irony here: 250 years later, a Kochi native son - a former low-ranked samurai and now ronin named Sakamoto Ryoma坂本 龍馬 - played a pivotal role in bringing the Tokugawa Shogunate to an end and restoring the Emperor of Japan to political prominence. The prize once awarded for faithful service became a hotbed of support for the Meiji Restoration. Admission to Kochi Castle was free, unless you want to climb the Castle Tower (420 yen). There were a couple of beautiful statues – one of Yamauchi Kazutoyo on his famed warhorse, and another one of the war horse and his wife Chiyo 千代. Chiyo has long been considered as the ideal samurai wife. According to legend, she made her kimono out of a quilted patchwork of bits of old cloth and save pennies to buy her husband, Yamauchi, a magnificent horse on which he rode to many victories. Their love story was quite unusual among samurais. Yamauchi never took another wife or concubine even though Chiyo only gave him a daughter. Near Chiyo’s statue is a tablet by Yamauchi commemorating her death. We visited the Kochi Yosakoi Information Exchange Center as our last stop before returning to ship. Yosakoi Festival in Kochi is one of Japan’s 10 largest festivals held each year from August 9 to 12 (and we just missed it). There was a “Yosakoi Theater” which ran films on the 60-year history of the Yosakoi Festival. In the “Yosakoi Taiken (experience) Corner,” visitors can experience the “Seicho Yosakoi Naruko Odori” dance while holding traditional “naruko” bird clappers, or put on festival costumes and take commemorative pictures. Free admission and nice clean toilets in the center.
