Castle and Castle Ruins Tours

Not just the castle keep. Japanese famous castles that will make you fall in love with the stone walls and moats.

Himeji's egret, Matsumoto's jet black, Takeda's sea of clouds. Castles that will impress castle lovers, filled with the aesthetics of defense.

100 Famous Japanese Castles Stamp Rally

A list of the '100 Famous Japanese Castles' selected by the Japanese Castle Foundation in 2006 and for which a stamp rally has been held since June 2, 2007, organized by region. It covers famous castles nationwide, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, including the 12 existing castles such as Himeji Castle, Matsumoto Castle, and Hikone Castle, as well as Goryokaku Fort, Shuri Castle, and Takeda Castle Ruins. Stamps for each castle are located at the management office, entrance, etc., but their locations, stamping hours, and fees may change, so always check the official sources (Japanese Castle Foundation / each castle) for the latest information. You can view all 100 castles on a map and record 'how many castles you have conquered' by checking in.

100 Famous Castles of Japan Stamp Rally

A list of the 'New 100 Famous Castles of Japan' (No. 101-200), selected by the Japan Castle Foundation in 2017 and implemented as a stamp rally since 2018, organized by region. This list covers famous castles and castle ruins nationwide, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, including magnificent castles with stone walls and keeps like Yonago Castle, Nakao Castle, and Gujohachiman Castle, to ancient castles and fortifications such as Shinagawa Daiba, Mizuki, Kii Castle, Kaneda Castle, and Kikuchi Castle, and even World Heritage sites like Zakimi Castle, Katsuren Castle, and Hara Castle. This is the second series following the '100 Famous Castles of Japan,' focusing on remains like stone walls, earthworks, and enclosures, as well as reconstructed or mock keeps, and Gusuku and ancient mountain castles, as there are no existing keeps. Stamps for each castle are located at management offices, museums, or castle entrances, but their locations, hours, and fees may change, so always check the official sources (Japan Castle Foundation / each castle) for the latest information. You can view all 100 castles on a map and record how many you have conquered by checking in.

Tour of the 12 Existing Castles: 5 National Treasures and 7 Important Cultural Properties

The 12 Existing Castles are castles where the keeps from the Edo period or earlier still remain. Of these, 5 castles - Himeji, Matsumoto, Inuyama, Hikone, and Matsue - are National Treasures, and the remaining 7 castles are Important Cultural Properties of Japan. We have compiled the 12 castles scattered across the country by National Treasure and Important Cultural Property status.