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Castles in Japan are characterized by their grand history and unique architectural beauty.
In particular, castles built between the Azuchi-Momoyama period and the early Edo period (1603-1868) are often highly finished, reflecting the will of the people under the heaven.

Five National Treasure Castles

These are the five castles among the existing keepers that have been designated as national treasures.
  • Matsumoto Castle (Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture): This castle with its beautiful contrast of black and white is also known as a flat castle with the castle tower as a National Treasure, despite its location on a flatland.
  • Inuyama Castle (Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture): This flatland castle is said to have the oldest existing castle tower and is a national treasure.
  • Hikone Castle (Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture): Known for its defensive features such as the distinctive gables (roof decoration) and the moat surrounding the castle keep.
  • Himeji Castle (Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture): Also known as “Shirasagi Castle. Also known as “Shirasagi Castle,” the castle is registered as a World Heritage site for its impressive white walls with white plasterwork and all-nurikon construction.
  • Matsue Castle (Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture): This castle is characterized by its black-painted walls and has a compound keep.

12 existing keepers

In addition to the five national treasures, there are 12 castles with keep built before the Edo period that remain to this day.
  • Hirosaki Castle (Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture)
  • Maruoka Castle (Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture)
  • Bicchu Matsuyama Castle (Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture)
  • Marugame Castle (Marugame Castle (Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture)
  • Matsuyama Castle (Matsuyama Castle (Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture)
  • Uwajima Castle (Uwajima Castle (Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture)
  • Kochi Castle (Kochi Castle (Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture)

One of the three most famous castles in Japan

These are three castles that are renowned as great castles.
  • Nagoya Castle (Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture): Tokugawa Ieyasu built this castle as a base for unifying the country.
  • Osaka Castle (Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture): A huge castle built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
  • Kumamoto Castle (Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture): Famous for its impregnable castle built by Kiyomasa Kato.