There are hundreds if not thousands of castles in Japan. I’m sure you’ve visited famous castles in Japan like Osaka Castle, Okayama Castle, or Hiroshima Castle. Truth is, these are all reconstructed and restored castles. The majority of castles have been destroyed due to either war, environmental disasters, or politics. A few castles scattered throughout Japan have survived these obstacles. There are only 12 original castles in Japan and I’ve visited them all. This post explains what makes a castle “original” and gives a first-hand account of my visits to Japan’s 12 original castles.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! What Makes it an Original Castle? Throughout Japan’s history castles have been under constant siege, threatened by environmental catastrophes, or completely dismantled during the Meiji government era.  Out of the hundreds or thousands of castles that once existed throughout Japan there are only 12 original ones remaining. In Japan these castles are known as “Genson-tenshu,” which translates to “The existing castles.” Of the 12 original castles in Japan, 5 of them are considered to be national treasures like Matsumoto Castle  while 7 are important cultural assets.  So what makes these castles Genson-tenshu or original?  While visiting many of Japan’s original castles, the majority of the castles are just walls with a moat and castle keep. The castle’s keep or fortified tower is what makes these castles original. The common thing amongst Japan’s original castles is that their main keep is still intact and has been since the Edo period, around the mid 1800’s.  12 Original Castles in Japan After living in Japan for over 5 years now, I finally visited the last of the 12 original castles in Japan, which was Hirosaki Castle in Aomori Prefecture.  The original castles are scattered throughout mainland Japan from Aomori Prefectures to Ehime Prefecture on the island of Shikoku.  These castles vary in sizes, Himeji being the largest and grandest whereas Uwajima Castle is a small keep hugging the coast line of the Pacific Ocean.  1. Bitchu Matsuyama Castle Not to be confused with Matsuyama Castle in Ehime Prefecture, Bitchu Matsuyama Castle is located in Okayama Prefecture but shares a similar name.  Bitchu Matsuyama Castle is not only famous for being one of Japan’s original castles but for it’s location. Bitchu Matsuyama Castle is the only true mountain castle located in the mountains of Okayama Prefecture. It is located about 430 m above sea level on Mt. Gagyu.  Originally built in 1240 as a fortified fortress, Bitchu Matsuyama Castle has been conquered by various clans to include the Mori Clan. During the Meiji era, Bitchu Matsuyama Castle was abandoned and left to wither away. Thankfully in the early 1900’s, groups began restoration work on the castle and we can enjoy it today!  Today, visitors can walk to the main keep. There is a parking lot near the castle, but it is still a 20 minute or so walk. For those that are unable to walk the incline to the castle, there is a shuttle bus that leaves the parking lot and arrives close to the castle.  What makes Bitchu Matsuyama Castle one of my favorites is, Sanjuro the current castle or cat lord that guards the grounds and greets visitors. You can read all about Sanjuro, how he got here, and so much more on the castles website.  Castle HoursApril to September: 9:00 – 17:30October to March: 9:00 – 16:30 Entrance FeeAdults ¥500/Elementary and Jr. High Students ¥200 For more information feel free to view the Official Website 2. Hikone Castle Located in the city of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture is Hikone Castle. This castle is listed as a National Treasure and still has it’s original keep (tenshu).  Hikone Castle dates back to 1622 and was constructed by the Ii Clan. The castle was built to protect the Nakasendo route toward the city of Kyoto.  Hikone Castle is listed as a National Treasure due to its spectacular architectural style, original turrets, and horse stable.  Castle Hours8:30 to 17:00 Entrance FeeCastle ¥700Castle and Garden ¥1000Castle, Garden, and Museum ¥1500 For more information feel free to view the Official Website 3. Himeji Castle Himeji Castle, also known as the White Heron Castle, is the grandest and best preserved of all Japan’s original castles. It  is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Treasure.  If you were to ask me what castle in Japan is a must see? My response is always going to be Himeji. It’s superior to any other castle, even the famous Osaka and Nagoya Castles.  Most castles in Japan only have a keep along with a gate, maybe a turret, and remaining walls. But Himeji gives its visitors a look at what a full castle looked like back in the day. Himeji castle has over 80 buildings, in tact turrets, gates, and complex corridors.  The castle keep you see today is in its original form since it was built in 1609. Surprisingly, Himeji Castle was not affected by WWII, although the town of Himeji was heavily destroyed. Himeji Castle was painted black, that way it could not be seen from planes flying above the city.  Himeji Castle has one of the best preserved interiors. When walking through, pay attention to the stone throwing platforms, special hiding places for warriors, weapon racks, and the impressive doors.  Castle Hours9:00 – 17:00June 1 to August 31: 9:00 – 18:00 Entrance FeeAdults ¥1000 / Elementary and Jr. High Students ¥300 Combined Ticket for Himeji Castle and Kokoen GardenAdults ¥1050 / Students ¥360 For more information feel free to view the Official Website 4. Hirosaki Castle Located in the far north Prefecture of Aomori is Hirosaki Castle. Most visitors come here during Cherry Blossom season as Hirosaki Castle is spectacular during this time of year.  Built in 1611, Hirosaki Castle was home to the Tsugaru Clan. Originally, the main keep was 5-stoies but was struck by lightning and burnt to the ground in 1627. The keep you see today on the site is from 1810.  The keep is more recent but the building process used traditional techniques with original features.  At the current moment (2024), the Hirosaki Castle has been moved from its original location. They are currently working on the foundation. The keep is close to the original site and the inside is still accessible. The construction process is said to last a couple years.   Castle HoursApril 1 to November 23: 9:00 – 17:00Duing Sakura Festival: 7:00 – 21:00 Entrance FeeAdults ¥320 / Students ¥100 For more information feel free to view the Official Website 5. Inuyama Castle Located about 25 km north of Nagoya in Aichi City is Inuyama Castle. Considered to be the oldest of the original castles in Japan, built around 1537 by Oda Nobukatsu, one of Oda Nobunaga’s sons. Inuyama Castle is also a National Treasure.  Visible on a hill overlooking the Kiso River below, Inuyama Castle is known for it’s beautiful architecture and wooden interior. Inuyama Castle is one of the better ones to visit if you want to see a castle in its original form, with little modern updates compared to other castles. Castle Hours9:00 – 17:00 Entrance FeeAdults ¥550 / Children ¥110 For more information feel free to view the Official Website 6. Kochi Castle Kochi Castle is located in Kochi City which also happens to be located in Kochi Prefecture. Since 1959, Kochi Castle has been listed as a National Historic Site.  Kochi Castle is unique as it was used as a residence for the local daimyo. The main keep is connected to the palace, it is not separate like other castles.  Kochi Castle was first built between 1601 and 1611 but much of the castle was burnt down in the 1700’s. In 1753 it was built back to its original form.  Castle Hours9:00 – 17:00 Entrance FeeAdults ¥420 For more information feel free to view the Official Website 7. Marugame Castle Marugame Castle is located on Japan’s Shikoku Island in Kagawa Prefecture. Besides being one of Japan’s original castles, Marugame Castle is known for its original wooden keep, towering stone walls, and its location, being perched on Kameyama Hill overlooking Marugame City. Marugame Castle was bult in 1597 by Ikoma Chikamasa, a daimyo during the Edo period. During the Meiji Restoration, when many castles were dismantled, Marugame was no exception. Most of the castle was dismantled but the keep and walls were saved.  Castle Hours9:00 – 16:30 Entrance FeeAdults ¥400 For more information feel free to view the Official Website 8. Maruoka Castle One of the more lesser known of the original castles is Maruoka Castle. Maruoka Castle is located in Sakai City in the Japanese Prefecture of Fukui.  Maruoka Castle is one of the oldest original castle in Japan dating back to 1576. The castle was built by the daimyo Katsutoyo Shibata.  Maruoka Castle has a three-story keep that is made of wood and stone. The keep is also known as the “Mist Castle” based on a legend that claimed mist would appear during warfare to protect the castle from enemies.  The keep is all that is left here with the exception of a few walls. The surrounding area of Maruoka Castle has been turned into a nice park.  Castle Hours8:30 – 17:00 Entrance FeeAdults ¥450 / Children ¥150 For more information feel free to view the Official Website 9. Matsue Castle Located in Shimane Prefecture, Matsue Castle is listed as a National Treasure and was completed in 1611 by Horio Yoshiharu.  Matsue Castle is a prime example as being build in a typical watchtower style for warfare. Thankfully, Matsue Castle has never been involved in a battle and therefore still stands in its original form.  A beautiful moat surrounds Matsue Castle. Today, boat tours can be taken around the castle. The keep is well worth visiting as there is an informative museum that houses a few artifacts.  Castle HoursApril 1 to September 30: 8:30am – 18:30October 1 to March 31: 8:30 am – 17:00 Entrance FeeAdults ¥680 / Children ¥290 For more information feel free to view the Official Website 10. Matsumoto Castle After Himeji Castle, Matsumoto Castle is my favorite of Japan’s original castles. Also known as the “Crow Castle” because of its unique black exterior, Matsumoto Castle is located in Nagano Prefecture.  Another unique aspect about Matsumoto Castle is its location. Instead of being built on a hill, it sits on a flat plain.  Matsumoto Castle dates back to 1594 and newer structures were added to the castle in the 1630’s.  Matsumoto Castle was supposed to be entirely dismantled during the Meiji Restoration, but many residents from the city and one in particular, Ichikawa Ryozo stood up to spare the castle from destruction.  Matsumoto Castle today is a spectacular castle to visit. The unique black design and tenshu are absolutely beautiful. Visitors can go inside and see the Moon Viewing Room.  Castle Hours8:30 – 17:00 Entrance FeeAdults ¥700 / Children ¥300 For more information feel free to view the Official Website 11. Matsuyama Castle Matsuyama Castle, is one of two castles located in Ehime Prefecture on the island of Shikoku along with Uwajima.  Matsuyama Castle is located on Mt. Katsuyama in the heart of Matsuyama City. The castle was built between 1602 and 1628 by the daimyo, Yoshiaki Kato.  Matsuyama Castle is one of the more complex castles in Japan. The main keep is three-tiered in the traditional style. Several of the watchtowers, gates, and walls are still in its original form.  Since Matsuyama Castle sits on top of Mt. Katsuyama it is worth coming here for the views alone. You get a great view of the city, mountains, and Seto Inland Sea.  Castle Hours9:00 – 17:00 Entrance FeeAdults ¥520 / Children ¥160 For more

Located between the Japanese cities of Okayama and Kobe lies the city of Himeji. Not known to many foreigners, Himeji is one of Japan’s best kept secrets. Himeji is home to Japan’s most beautiful and grandest castle, Himeji Castle. Himeji Castle dates back to 1609 and is still intact. Himeji Castle has escaped being damaged by civil wars, WWII, and natural disasters. When visiting Himeji, the castle is a must but there are many attractions that are worthwhile, especially if taking a day trip to Himeji. Across from the castle lies the beautiful Koko-en Gardens, there is a fantastic arcade street with dining and shopping options, and don’t forget to visit Mt. Shosha and Engyo-ji, an ancient temple complex found on a hillside, made famous as being the setting for several scenes in Tom Cruise’s movie, The Last Samurai.  Where is Himeji? How to Travel to Himeji What to Do and See in Himeji Himeji Castle Koko en Gardens Miyukidori Mt. Shosha and Engyo-ji

Iwakuni, Japan is on the southern end of the Chugoku region located in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Just south of Hiroshima, Iwakuni would be unheard of to outsiders if it weren’t for the Marine Corps Air Station here. Iwakuni is a great place to live. For being a smaller Japanese town it has great transportation, popular tourist attractions, and has a diverse restaurant and bar scene. This guide to Iwakuni is an introduction of Iwakuni that will be part of a post series for all things Iwakuni.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Background on Iwakuni Iwakuni is considered a town or small city, with a population over 150,000. By far the most notable landmark in Iwakuni is the Kintai-kyo or simply Kintai Bridge. If you see any image of Iwakuni whether it be on a travel site or magazine to include this post, it will most likely be a photo of the Kintai Bridge.  The Kintai Bridge dates back hundreds of years and consists of five wooden arches being held up by stone pillars over the Nishiki River. In the 1600’s the bridge was only used by Samurai Warriors to protect Iwakuni Castle which sits on top of the hill behind the Kintai Bridge. The Kintai Bridge stood strong for hundreds of years before a typhoon wiped it out in 1950. It has since been reconstructed and remains Iwakuni’s prized landmark.  Iwakuni Castle was built in 1608 on top of Shiroyama. Unfortunately, due to the one castle per prefecture rule, Iwakuni Castle was taken down only seven years after it was first built. In 1962, the castle was rebuilt and turned into a museum.  In 1940, Japan’s Navy built a military base where the current base stands. After being defeated during WWII, the base was turned over to the Royal Australian Air Force. It was being used by the American Forces during the Korean War and as of 1952, it has official belonged to the United States and currently is home to MCAS Iwakuni.  Iwakuni on a Map Iwakuni is located in the Chugoku Region of Honshu, Japan’s largest island. Iwakuni is in Yamaguchi Prefecture which is the southern most prefecture on Honshu. Part of Iwakuni to include MCAS Iwakuni is located on an island between the Imazu and Monzen River, both being fed by the Nishiki River. To the east of Iwakuni is Hiroshima Bay. By far the biggest city close to Iwakuni is Hiroshima City. Getting to Iwakuni and Transportation For a city of its size, Iwakuni is well connected. Iwakuni has an airport, train station, and shinkansen station.  Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport is small and only offers ANA flights to Tokyo and Okinawa. Visitors can view the Iwakuni Airport webpage for flights and more details.  The new JR Iwakuni Station is a fantastic train station with direct access to Hiroshima. The train station has parking, bike parking, bus stops, taxis, a café, convenience stores, and other shops and restaurants.  Shin-Iwakuni Station is a little inconvenient as it is located further out of town, none the less it is a nice option to have access to the shinkansen line. Last time we visited Iwakuni and took the shinkansen, the taxi fare was ¥4000 to downtown which I found is pretty expensive. Taking the shinkansen isn’t cheap either, but it is a luxury and gets you to destinations quickly.   Where to Stay Iwakuni has a nice mix of hotel options from hostels to Business hotels and Spas.  If you are looking to relax and stay near the Kintai Bridge, I’d recommend the Iwakuni Kokusai Kanko Hotel. This hotel is right by the bridge and has an onsen. From the hotel you get views of both the Kintai Bridge and Castle. You can get a traditional hotel experience at this hotel as it offers local cuisine in the restaurant and offers traditional style rooms.  If looking for a traditional Ryokan, I’d recommend Aburamasa Ryokan. Personally, I haven’t stayed here, but lived nearby and love the look of this building. I also heard good things about this Ryokan from locals.  For those that are looking for just a place to sleep near the train station, I’d recommend the chain hotels like  Toyoko Inn or Green Rich Hotel. Both hotels offer breakfast. For an even cheaper option, I stayed at Hotel Trend . I would note, the rooms in this hotel are on the smaller side and not as up to date as the other two, but it’s an option. I’ve stayed at all three and really don’t have any complaints.  ✅ For Luxury, I recommend Iwakuni Kokusai Kanko Hotel ✅ For a Ryokan Experience in Iwakuni, I recommend the Aburamasa Ryokan✅ For a standard hotel I recommend either Toyoko Inn or the Green Rich Hotel✅ For a cheaper stay in Iwakuni, I recommend looking into Hotel Trend What was it Like Living in Iwakuni Jill and I both loved living in Iwakuni. Iwakuni hit everything on our list. It’s a small city yet has everything you need. We loved the train station there, it was great being able to hop on a train to Hiroshima or Miyajima. The weather was perfect, both spring and fall were long while summer and winter were both pretty mild. We were within walking distance to grocery stores, restaurants, downtown, and even the Kintai Bridge area. We participated in many community evens like cooking classes and rice harvesting. We made many friends here both from MCAS Iwakuni and locals that reside off base. Iwakuni was just perfect for us.  We lived in a traditional Japanese style apartment. The apartment itself was spacious and bigger then expected but the kitchen was tiny but we made it work.  We did the majority of our shopping off base. The Japanese grocery stores had everything we needed with the exception of some items like peanut butter or yogurt, but we were fortunate enough to get that stuff at the commissary on base. We kind of had the best of both worlds living there.  Community Events MCAS Iwakuni and the local community had a great relationship. The base set up several events through various programs that we were able to attend. At the time, Jill was not working so she got to attend more then I did. Plus, we spent almost our entire time in Iwakuni during Covid restrictions so we were very limited on what we could do. Here are a few of the fun community events that either Jill or both of us got to experience while living in Iwakuni. Cooking Classes We signed up for cooking two cooking classes in Iwakuni. These were done through the base, but there are other cooking classes in town that offer the same experience. Again, these were cancelled once Covid hit, but we managed to attend two. One Class we learned how to make Japanese Curry and the second class we learned how to make gyoza. Gyoza is a Japanese pan fried dumpling. The recipes we made in class turned out great. To this day, we still make curry and gyoza.  Picking Renkon (Lotus Root) in the Lotus Fields Southwest of MCAS Iwakuni were huge lotus fields. Lotus plants are aquatic and are native to parts of Asia, to include Japan. These plants prefer wet, muddy fields so digging for the roots is definitely a dirty job. The root itself is long and -reddish-brown with a whitish inside. The consistency is potato like. Just like a potato, there are several ways to eat lotus root. You can slice it and add it to soup, or cook it in a pan with cheese, I’ve even seen them being made into chips. Regardless of how it is made, I’ve never had a bad dish that consisted of lotus root.  Rice Harvesting Rice harvesting was probably ours or at least my favorite activity we got to do. I was always curious on how rice gets harvested so it was great to be involved with and assist a local farmer with his rice harvest. We used a sickle to cut toward the bottom of the plant, tied a few bundles together and then hung the plant upside down to dry.  Our Cat Friends in the Neighborhood Moving and living overseas is never easy. We left a lot behind most importantly our cats. Walking around Iwakuni, we made a lot of  friends with the local cats around the neighborhood. We would do our rounds and visit the kitties almost daily, we even came up with names for all our favorites. Below are some of the cats we made friends with.   *From Top Left  to Bottom Right you have: Kutalo, Ear Tuft Kitty, Motorcycle Kitty (gave her this name because we’d walk by the house and she would chill inside a basket on the front of a moped, sorry no photos of that), Smudge or Smudgy (Jill’s favorite), Seawall Kitty, Window Kitty, and Leash Kitty.  Other Animals Encountered in Iwakuni No guide to Iwakuni is complete without mentioning the wildlife that surrounds this city. Iwakuni is surrounded by forests, mountains, ocean, and rivers. Because of this, the wildlife is pretty diverse. You have everything from bears and monkeys to fish that leap out of the water and stingrays.  First, I’ll go over some of the animals that we actually did see, and I have to start with the Huntsman Spider (pictured below). Jill was working at night and left a note for me on the table basically saying that there is a huge spider above the front door and if it’s still there or gone without me seeing it leave then she’s packing her bags and leaving. A Bit dramatic right? I don’t mind spiders, I rescue them whenever possible. Usually, I grab a glass, catch them, and put them outside. I had that same mindset for this spider. I grabbed a glass walked outside, looked up, and knew that a glass was not going to cut it. This was by far the biggest and scariest spider I’ve seen. I had no clue how to get him off the ceiling above the door. I ended up sweeping him off with a broom, put him in a dust pan and gently released him across the road.   If you ever do see a huntsman spider, although terrifying, they are harmless to humans. In fact, they eat a lot of the unwanted insects and other bugs.  There are a few seasonal animals that we saw in Iwakuni. For instance crabs, they would come out during the rainy season. We lived close to a river, but I never expected to see crabs everywhere. We spotted them crossing the roads, in gutters, we even saw one at the elevator in our apartment building.  Iwakuni White Snake Iwakuni does have snakes. There are pit vipers or habu that call this area home. But even more common are the rat snakes. Iwakuni is home to a national treasure, the White Snake. This is a extremely rare type of rat snake found in Iwakuni.  Japanese Macaques  Just like the popular Snow Monkeys that hang out in the onsen in Nagano Prefecture. These monkeys can be seen around Iwakuni as well, mainly on the outskirts or near the Kintai Bridge and Castle area.  Asian Black Bear Bears also call the Iwakuni area home. Although encounters are rare, it is possible to see them in wooded areas. I’ve seen several warning signs posted around Iwakuni, mainly near the castle.  Outdoor Activities Around Iwakuni Iwakuni and Yamaguchi Prefecture in general is an outdoorsman’s paradise. In Iwakuni, you have direct access to the ocean, rivers, forests, and mountains. You don’t have to go far if you are looking for adventure. This guide to Iwakuni outlines some of the outdoor

Hikone is a fairly small sized city located on Lake Biwa’s eastern edge in Shiga Prefecture. Hikone is most famous for Hikone Castle, one of the original castles of Japan dating back to 1622. Besides visiting Hikone Castle, some other top things to do in Hikone include a visit to Genkyuen Garden and exploring the Yume Kyobashi Castle Road. Also while in Hikone, make sure to take a photo with their official mascot, Hikonyan!  Things to do in Hikone – How we Spent our Time here To further my mission of visiting all the original castles in Japan, Hikone was high on my list of places to visit due to the Hikone Castle. On our latest trip toward Kanazawa, we stopped in Hikone for a day from Nagoya. We stayed the night here at Hotel Sunroute Hikone in order to see the castle both at night and during the day.  Hikone is small enough where a half to full day should suffice. Obviously, there are amazing day trips from Hikone and cycling Lake Biwa seemed to be a very popular activity. If you are looking for things to do in Hikone, this post outlines how we spent our time exploring Hikone.  Hikone Castle Like Matsumoto Castle, Hikone Castle is listed as a National Treasure and is one of Japan’s 12 original castles. Hikone Castle’s main keep is in tact or original, as is the inner moats, walls surrounding the castles, guard towers scattered throughout the grounds, and even the gates are original.  The construction of Hikone Castle was completed in 1622. Part of the reason Hikone Castle was listed as a National Treasure was because of the beautiful architecture on the castles exterior, primarily the roof design. This castle is fairly small with only 3 floors. To get to the main keep, there is a wooden bridge that extends across two walls. During times of war, this bridge could have easily been destroyed discouraging attackers.  Today visitors can walk the castle grounds, enter the main keep, and explore a few of the turrets and gates that are open.  Visiting Hours and Admission Fees Hours Daily from – 8:30 to 17:00  Admission ¥800 for Castle and Gekyuen Garden ¥1200 for Castle, Garden, and Museum Below are photos taken both at night and during the day of Hikone Castle from the moat.  Genkyuen Garden Originally, we were going to skip Genkyuen Garden and just do the castle. We had a full day ahead of us and wanted to get to Kanazawa before nightfall. The entrance price to the castle included both visiting the castle grounds and the Genkyuen Garden. So we decided to briefly see the garden upon our exit from Hikone Castle.  To be honest, we did a lot more then just briefly see the garden. Genkyuen Garden was much more beautiful and interesting then I thought and we were both glad we spent the extra time walking around this peaceful garden.  Genkyuen Garden was built during the Edo Period. According to the brochure at the site, this garden was the subsidiary residence of the lord at the time. There is a large pond in the center of the gardens with four islands being connected by bridges. Visitors can even enjoy a cup matcha tea at the tea house.  Yume Kyobashi Castle Road One of the nicer castle towns I’ve visited while in Japan was Hikone’s Yume Kyobashi Castle Road.  Yume Kyobasi Road is just on the other side of the Kyobashi Bridge when exiting the castle grounds and continues straight for several blocks. Each side of the road is lined with restaurants and shops that sell treats, souvenirs, and sweets.  Besides the food and shopping, the main draw to Yume Kyobashi Castle Road is the gorgeous buildings on either side of the road. The castle road was created to replicate what the street would have looked like during the Edo Period. The buildings all have white walls with black latticework. Hikonyan – Hikone’s Mascot Hikonyan is Hikone’s official mascot. This mascot first came about in 2007 for Hikone Castles 400th anniversary.  Hikonyan is a white cat wearing a “Kabuto” or warrior helmet. The mascot is based on a real legend, Li Naotaka who was a feudal lord.  Hikonyan can be found all over Hikone. From the shores of Lake Biwa to base of the castle. You might even spot the mascot walking around other famous tourist sites!  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support!  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 

Matsumoto Castle, originally known as Fukashi Castle is one of Japan’s greatest castles and is listed as a National Treasure. The distinct black and white colors of the castle along with the red bridge, large moat, and stunning backdrop of the Japanese Alps, makes Matsumoto one of the most beautiful castles in Japan. A visit to Matsumoto Castle is a must when visiting Japan!  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! History of Matsumoto Castle Matsumoto Castle’s history dates back to the Eisho era between 1504 and 1520. During this era, a small border post was at this location, named Fukashi Castle. After years of Civil War, in 1550, Fukashi Castle was taken over by the Takeda Clan. The castle was later seized by Sadayoshi Ogasawara. Lord Ogasawara renamed the castle from Fukashi Castle to Matsumoto Castle.   Toyotomi Hideyoshi who was a Samurai and Daimyo (feudal lord) at the time, completed a conquest of Odawara and allocated the Kanto region (geographical area of Japan) to Ieyasu Tokugawa and appointed Ishikawa Kazumasa as the new lord of Matsumoto Castle. Kazumasa and his son, Yasunaga maintained the castle and surrounding town. Yasunaga was in charge of building the tenshu (highest tower), residences, castle gates, moat, and trenches. The construction of the castle as seen today was potentially completed in the years 1593 to 1594.  Matsumoto Castle was built for war purposes and was never meant to be built for residential purposes, so there are no real accommodations within the castle.  Several clans moved in and out of the castle for years up until the Meiji Restoration era in 1868. During the Meiji Restoration the government ordered feudal fortifications to be demolished, this included Matsumoto Castle. When the news spread around town that the government had plans to remove the tenshu, a man named Ichikawa Ryozo and many other residents from the city campaigned against the destruction of the castle. The campaign worked and the government decided not to demolish Matsumoto Castle. Because of this, Matsumoto Castle is considered one of the 12 Original Castles of Japan.  Admission and Hours The photo above was taken at Matsumoto Castle. Below are the admission fees and hours for visitors to visit Matsumoto Castle.  Admission Adults ¥700, Children ¥300 There are different rates for larger groups, refer to the image above.  Hours The park outside the castle can be accessed 24/7. To access the castle grounds and tour Matsumoto Castle the opening hours are from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm.  Matsumoto Castle is closed on December 29 until January 3.   Visiting Matsumoto Castle Today Matsumoto Castle is the highlight of visiting the mountain city of Matsumoto. Honestly, there was not a whole lot else in Matsumoto besides visiting the castle.  Visitors can walk the park outside the castle grounds. From here you get incredible views of the castle and moat. The park can be accessed 24/7. I recommend viewing the castle from the park both during the day and at night. Below are two photos I took from the park while on our visit to Matsumoto Castle.  During opening hours, visitors can tour the castle grounds and castle itself by accessing the entrance at the Kuromon Gate. We came early in the morning shortly after opening and there were already several people already within the castle walls.  Right away, once we entered the castle grounds, there was a fun statue of Arupi-Chan (Matsumoto’s Mascot) with stunning views of Matsumoto Castle in the background. For obvious reasons both Jill and I had to take a photo with Arupi-Chan.  Visitors like us are able to access the interior of Matsumoto Castle. Remember, like most other castles in Japan and many other places, shoes are to be taken off prior to entering. Plastic Bags or Lockers will usually be provided to place the shoes in. Sounds odd, but it is a great way to preserve the wood plus the old wooden boards feel so good on the feet. We walked to the uppermost floor on the Tenshu, there were 6 floors in total. The 6th floor was used as a watchtower during battle. The windows at the top were open, you get a beautiful 360° view of Matsumoto City.  After visiting the 6th floor, we made our way down to the other floors. There was nothing really to see, most rooms are open and made of solid wood. The bottom floors do have original Ishiotoshi or stone drop areas. The Ishiotoshi were used to throw rocks down the tower preventing enemies from scaling the walls. There were also yazama or openings for archers and teppozama which are opening in the walls to place a firearm.  One room I’ve never seen before was the Tsukimi-yagura or moon observatory room. This room was open on three sides providing an open feel to the room. Below are a couple photos, one is what the interior of the floors look like and the second photo is from the inside of the Tsukimi-yagura.  After a visit to the inside of Matsumoto Castle, don’t forget to walk around the rest of the castle grounds. We walked the entire moat afterwards which I am glad we did otherwise we would have missed seeing the iconic red bridge.  Conclusion Of the 12 original castles in Japan, Matsumoto was among my favorite and is a must visit castle while in Japan. Matsumoto Castle strikes me as one of the most beautiful because of the distinct black and white colors of the main keep. Visitors can enter the inside of the castle, walk the grounds, or spend time in the park and see it from the outside. This is a National Treasure of Japan and is well worth visiting.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇯🇵  Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖️🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars. Train Travel 🚂🚊  For the JR Pass, tickets can be purchased on the JR Pass site.