Not Just the Castle Keep. Japan's Famous Castles That Will Charm You with Their Stone Walls and Moats

A World Heritage site, the White Heron Castle, the stone walls built by Ikeda Terumasa and the triple spiral layout are of overwhelming beauty.

The stone walls from the Ishikawa Kazumasa era that support the National Treasure keep, and the beautiful arrangement of the inner and outer moats surrounding the Honmaru are highlights.

The National Treasure keep built on the cliff of the Kiso River, the stone walls maintained by the Naruse clan, and the natural fortress create a superb view.

The stone wall technology supporting the Tenbin Yagura and the charm of the inner moat with Lake Biwa as a borrowed scenery possess a dignity befitting a National Treasure.

The existing castle tower, the stone walls built by Kato Yoshiaki, and the 21 remaining tower sites show the majesty of Iyomatsuyama.

The Musagashi stone walls built by Kiyomasa Kato and the robust defensive system of the moats protecting the Honmaru are magnificent.

The stone walls built with giant stones from the Toyotomi era and the magnificent moats extending from the Otemon gate tell of the grandeur of that time.

The capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom, the beauty of the palace architecture with its uniquely curved stone walls and Ryutan Pond has been revived.

The stone walls and inner moats surrounding the existing keep, the castle of the Tsugaru clan who unified Tsugaru, are etched with Hirosaki's history.

The Tokugawa Shogun's Kyoto residence, the palace where Yoshinobu returned power, and the beauty of the gardens convey the elegance of Edo.

The high stone walls of the main keep built by Yamauchi Kazutoyo and the layout that utilizes the steep terrain, characteristic of a famous Shikoku castle, are attractive.

The smallest existing castle tower in the sky, the stone walls renovated by Kobori Enshu and the natural bedrock harmonize to create a mountain castle beauty.

Famous for Japan's highest stone walls, boasting a height of 60m, the stone wall complex and the superb view overlooking the Sanuki Plain are its pride.

Famous as a 'Castle in the Sky', the stone walls built in the gorge of the Takeda River create a fantastical scene floating in the morning mist.

The existing keep on a small hill overlooking Lake Shinji, and the stone walls built by the Horio clan using the nozura-zumi technique, evoke the past.

The residence of the Maeda clan's million koku, the stone walls of Ishikawa-mon Gate and the stone walls of Hyakkendori moats convey the prestige of the Kaga domain to this day.

The keep with red tiles standing on stone walls built by Ujisato Gamo, and its harmony with the inner moat etched with Aizu's history, are beautiful.

The stage of the Ueda Battle built by Sanada Masayuki, the stone walls of the flatland castle with the Chikuma River as its outer moat tell of Sanada's wisdom.

From the stronghold of the Hojo clan to the residence of the Okubo clan, the beautiful scenery of the stone walls overlooking Sagami Bay and the Gakubashi bridge is attractive.

The stone walls of the pentagonal keep base built by Hidemasa Ikeda, and the layout using the Asahi River as an outer moat are original.

A flatland castle on the Ota River delta built by Mori Terumoto, the restored stone walls and inner moat mark the history of Aki.

Fukuyama Castle built by Katsunari Mizuno, the stone walls viewed from the Shinkansen station and the inner moats tell the history of Bingo.

The residence of Saito Dosan and Oda Nobunaga, the stone walls on the summit of Mt. Kinka and the grand panorama of the Nagara River evoke Sengoku romance.

A restoration of Kazuyoshi Yamauchi's castle, the stone walls that defended the strategic point of the Tokaido and the water moat utilizing the Sakawa River are magnificent.

The castle-building techniques of Todo Takatora shine through, with the beauty of the stone walls overlooking the Uwajima Sea and the dignity of the existing castle tower reflecting Date's style.

The nozura-zumi stone walls supporting the oldest existing keep, and the moat utilizing the flow of the Ichijodani River, retain the atmosphere of the Sengoku period.

The stage of the Shimabara Rebellion built by Matsukura Shigemasa, the stone walls overlooking the Ariake Sea and the water moat retain the vestiges of Namban culture.

The curved castle walls and the layout that makes use of natural terrain, which showcase the stone construction techniques of the Ryukyu Kingdom, are unique.

The star-shaped fortress, the stage of the Battle of Hakodate, the stone walls and water moat built with Western fortification techniques mark the history of the late Edo and Meiji Restoration.