Castles towns

History of Japanese Castles

Fortresses have been integral to Japan since ancient times. The 15th-century decline of central government authority marked the beginning of the Sengoku Jidai, or Warring States period, a chaotic era of continuous conflict among numerous small independent states. These states constructed small castles atop mountains to serve as defensive strongholds.

In the latter half of the 16th century, Oda Nobunaga reestablished central authority, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi completed Japan’s reunification. This era saw the construction of many larger castles, typically located in plains or on small hills within the plains. These castles served as regional administrative and military headquarters and symbols of authority, becoming the centers of “castle towns.”

Following the end of the feudal era in 1868, many castles were demolished as remnants of the past or were destroyed during World War II. Today, only a dozen original castles with main keeps dating from before 1868 survive. Additionally, several dozen castles have been reconstructed in recent decades, mostly using concrete rather than traditional materials.

Castle Structures and Castle Towns

Typical Japanese castles featured multiple rings of defense, with the innermost circle, the honmaru, containing the main castle tower. The lords often resided in palatial residences within the honmaru or the second circle, the ninomaru. Surrounding the castle, samurai lived in the town, with higher-ranking samurai residing closer to the castle. Merchants and artisans occupied separate districts, while temple and entertainment districts were located on the outskirts.

Original castles were primarily constructed from wood, a detail evident in surviving interiors. However, modern reconstructions, typically built from concrete, often house museums.

Common Castle Features

• Castle Tower (Tenshukaku): The most prominent structure, also known as the donjon or keep, typically had two to five stories with more internal floors than visible stories. An example is Kumamoto Castle’s tower.
• Walls and Moats: Defensive measures included several rings of walls and moats. Notable examples are the walls and moats of Osaka Castle and the former Edo Castle (now Tokyo’s Imperial Palace).
• Guard Towers (Yagura): These smaller structures served as watch towers and storage rooms, often located at the corners of castle walls. Hiroshima Castle features a notable guard tower.
• Gates: Castles had multiple heavily defended entrance gates, usually arranged at 90-degree angles to create defensible inner yards. The Sakurada Gate of the former Edo Castle is an example.
• Palace (Goten): This was the lord’s residence and administrative office. While most original palaces have been lost, some, like the Ninomaru Palace of Nijo Castle, survive. Others, such as those at Kumamoto Castle, Hikone Castle, and Nagoya Castle, have been partially reconstructed.

These castles and their surrounding towns remain significant cultural symbols, offering a glimpse into Japan’s rich feudal history.

Top castles are:

Osaka castle

Nijo Castle

Former Kyoto residence of the shogun
Location: Kyoto

Imperial East Gardens (Tokyo)

Park on the former grounds of Edo Castle
Location: Tokyo

Himeji Castle

Japan’s best preserved feudal castle
Himeji Castle (姫路城, Himejijō), often referred to as White Heron Castle (Shirasagijo) because of its graceful, white facade, is renowned as Japan’s most magnificent castle.

Hiroshima Castle

Hiroshima Castle (広島城, Hiroshimajō), also known as the Carp Castle, exemplifies a castle built on a plain in the heart of a city, contrasting with hilltop and mountaintop castles. The main keep stands five stories tall, surrounded by a moat. Within the castle grounds, you’ll find a shrine, ruins, and several reconstructed buildings of the Ninomaru (second circle of defense).

Nagoya Castle

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城, Nagoyajō) was constructed at the start of the Edo Period (1603-1868) as the seat of the Owari branch, one of the three branches of the ruling Tokugawa family. It was one of the largest castles in Japan, and the castle town that developed around it eventually became the country’s fourth-largest city.

Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto Castle (松本城, Matsumotojō) is one of the most well-preserved and stunning among Japan’s original castles, meaning its keep has survived intact from the post-feudal era. Unlike many other castles, it was built on the plains rather than on a hill or mountain. Matsumoto Castle is distinctive for having both a secondary donjon and a turret connected to its main keep. The castle’s structures, with their characteristic black wainscoting, exude an air of grandeur and elegance.

Kanazawa Castle

From 1583 until the end of the Edo Period, Kanazawa Castle (金沢城, Kanazawajō) served as the seat of the powerful Maeda Clan, rulers of the Kaga domain, which was second only to the Tokugawa possessions in terms of size and wealth. Over the centuries, the castle was destroyed by fire multiple times, with the most recent blaze in 1881 leaving only two storehouses and the Ishikawa-mon Gate intact. The gate, which dates back to 1788, faces Kenrokuen Garden.

Kumamoto Caslte

Kumamoto Castle (熊本城, Kumamotojō) is among Japan’s most impressive castles, featuring extensive grounds and a variety of buildings that provide visitors with a comprehensive castle experience.

Shuri Castle

Now a district of Naha, Shuri was once the capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Shuri Castle (首里城, Shurijō) served as the administrative center and residence of the Ryukyu kings for centuries until Okinawa became a Japanese prefecture in 1879. It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Castles of the Ryukyu Kingdom sites. Originally constructed in the late 1300s, Shuri Castle played a key role in the political unification of the island.