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An historic journey through Japan's most incredible castles
- Visiting Japan without seeing at least one of its famous castles is almost the same as not visiting at all! These incredible constructions date back to the Medieval period and have stood defiant through civil wars, world wars, and other attacks.
Beautiful relics of Japan's past, these castles also boast museums, stunning gardens and spectacular scenery. Join us on a journey to visit the most incredible ones!
© Shutterstock
0 / 60 Fotos
A bit of history - Let's start with a bit of history behind these stunning ancient castles.
© Shutterstock
1 / 60 Fotos
First constructions - According to historians, the first castles in Japan were built in the 14th century.
© Shutterstock
2 / 60 Fotos
High up - The majority of them are built high up in the mountains.
© Shutterstock
3 / 60 Fotos
Reasons - This is because the majority of the castles were built in the Medieval period, and served as fortresses.
© Shutterstock
4 / 60 Fotos
Strategic position - Castles were also built for keeping watch over ports or roads.
© Shutterstock
5 / 60 Fotos
Names - Most castles were named after the cities in which they were built.
© Shutterstock
6 / 60 Fotos
Diversity - Across Japan there are a whole range of stunning castles to be discovered, including ruins, original structures, or redesigned ones.
© Shutterstock
7 / 60 Fotos
Preservation - A lot of these old buildings now house museums where ancient relics are preserved.
© Shutterstock
8 / 60 Fotos
Legislation - Japanese law is extremely strict when it comes to preserving national relics.
© Shutterstock
9 / 60 Fotos
Tour - Now you've learnt a little Japanese history, we're going to take you on a tour to visit some of the countries most incredible castles!
© Shutterstock
10 / 60 Fotos
Himeji Castle - Himeji Castle is located in the Kansai region of Japan, and was built in 1346.
© Shutterstock
11 / 60 Fotos
Himeji Castle - The castle was originally built as a wooden fort, meaning that it's full of winding alleyways, which aimed to prevent invaders from reaching their destination.
© Shutterstock
12 / 60 Fotos
Himeji Castle - During the Second World War, the castle was struck by two bombing raids, but luckily no lasting damage was sustained.
© Shutterstock
13 / 60 Fotos
Himeji Castle - Locals recommend visiting the castle during the flowering season of the Sakura tree, which produces sweet cherry blossom and transforms the landscape into a magical scene.
© Shutterstock
14 / 60 Fotos
Matsumoto Castle - This is Matsumoto castle. The breath-taking construction is a prized Japanese national treasure.
© Shutterstock
15 / 60 Fotos
Matsumoto Castle - It was built in the city of Matsumoto in the 14th century.
© Shutterstock
16 / 60 Fotos
Matsumoto Castle - The castle differs from other similar constructions in that it was not built high up in the mountains.
© Shutterstock
17 / 60 Fotos
Matsumoto Castle - Winter is a great time to visit this place, as the snow adds great beauty to the castle.
© Shutterstock
18 / 60 Fotos
Osaka Castle - It's nothing short of incredible that Osaka castle still stands today.
© Shutterstock
19 / 60 Fotos
Osaka Castle - Built in 1583, the castle was destroyed twice in the following century.
© Shutterstock
20 / 60 Fotos
Osaka Castle - It was destroyed by a clan the first time, then struck by lightening the second. Later it was also subject to attacks in the Second World War.
© Shutterstock
21 / 60 Fotos
Osaka Castle - But the good news is that it survived all these atrocities, and today stands as one of Japan's biggest tourist attractions.
© Shutterstock
22 / 60 Fotos
Okayama Castle - The beauty of Okayama castle stars with its golden roof tiles.
© Shutterstock
23 / 60 Fotos
Okayama Castle - The castle was originally built in 1597, but had to be rebuilt in 1966 after it was destroyed in the Second World War.
© Shutterstock
24 / 60 Fotos
Okayama Castle - This means the structure has a unique blend of old and new which has to be seen to be believed!
© Shutterstock
25 / 60 Fotos
Okayama Castle - Okayama castle is also a museum which puts on several exhibitions throughout the year.
© Shutterstock
26 / 60 Fotos
Nagoya Castle - Nagoya castle is one of Japan's most important historical structures.
© Shutterstock
27 / 60 Fotos
Nagoya Castle - Visiting the castle today, you'd never believe that it was once a prison and army barracks.
© Shutterstock
28 / 60 Fotos
Nagoya Castle - An aerial attack during the Second World War sadly destroyed the castle and many objects inside it.
© Shutterstock
29 / 60 Fotos
Nagoya Castle - The interiors of the castle are now home to a museum.
© Shutterstock
30 / 60 Fotos
Kumamoto Castle - Kumamoto castle is one of the three most important castles in Japan.
© Shutterstock
31 / 60 Fotos
Kumamoto Castle - However, this is not the castle's original structure.
© Shutterstock
32 / 60 Fotos
Kumamoto Castle - The original castle was actually destroyed during a civil war in the 19th century.
© Shutterstock
33 / 60 Fotos
Kumamoto Castle - But it has been redesigned so cleverly that visitors believe that they are in the original building.
© Shutterstock
34 / 60 Fotos
Matsue Castle - Matsue castle is unique for its wooden structure, which it has been able to maintain up to the present day.
© Shutterstock
35 / 60 Fotos
Matsue Castle - Built between 1607 and 1611, it is the sixth oldest castle in Japan.
© Shutterstock
36 / 60 Fotos
Matsue Castle - It is also the second largest Japanese castle.
© Shutterstock
37 / 60 Fotos
Matsue Castle - The color of its walls draw a stunning contrast with the surrounding gardens.
© Shutterstock
38 / 60 Fotos
Tsuruga Castle - Tsuruga castle wasn't always known by that name. Some say that when it was built in 1384 it was called Kurokawa.
© Shutterstock
39 / 60 Fotos
Tsuruga Castle - In the 19th century, however, its structure was badly damaged during a civil war.
© Shutterstock
40 / 60 Fotos
Tsuruga Castle - But at the beginning of the 1900s the castle underwent restoration.
© Shutterstock
41 / 60 Fotos
Tsuruga Castle - Today you can visit the castle, museum, and it's gorgeous gardens.
© Shutterstock
42 / 60 Fotos
Hiroshima Castle - Hiroshima castle came to a sad end with the dropping of the atomic bomb on the city during the Second World War.
© Shutterstock
43 / 60 Fotos
Hiroshima Castle - It was completely wiped out, along with huge swathes of the city's population.
© Shutterstock
44 / 60 Fotos
Hiroshima Castle - Over 10 years after the end of the war, the castle was miraculously rebuilt, remaining faithful to its original construction.
© Shutterstock
45 / 60 Fotos
Hiroshima Castle - Here there is something to suit any visitor, whether it's relaxing in the garden, marveling at spectacular views from the tower, or visiting the museum inside.
© Shutterstock
46 / 60 Fotos
Matsuyama Castle - Just traveling to Matsuyama castle gives your eyes a feast! It's located in the exquisitely beautiful Shiroyama Park.
© Shutterstock
47 / 60 Fotos
Matsuyama Castle - The structure has three floors and a museum with Samurai weapons and armor.
© Shutterstock
48 / 60 Fotos
Matsuyama Castle - If you love mysteries, then this castle has many more exciting features beyond the museum.
© Shutterstock
49 / 60 Fotos
Matsuyama Castle - It has crafty measures of defense against its enemies, including secret tunnels and rooms.
© Shutterstock
50 / 60 Fotos
Inuyama Castle - Close to the city of Nagoya is Inuyama castle.
© Shutterstock
51 / 60 Fotos
Inuyama Castle - The castle is rare for having avoided damage through various periods of war and conflict.
© Shutterstock
52 / 60 Fotos
Inuyama Castle - It has been considered a Japanese National Treasure during its history.
© Shutterstock
53 / 60 Fotos
Inuyama Castle - Curiously, two of its four floors are underground.
© Shutterstock
54 / 60 Fotos
Hirosaki Castle - Hirosaki castle was built in the region of Tohoku, between the Iwaki and Tsuchibuchi rivers.
© Shutterstock
55 / 60 Fotos
Hirosaki Castle - It was built in 1611.
© Shutterstock
56 / 60 Fotos
Hirosaki Castle - The public park which surrounds Hirosaki castle is full of magical cherry trees: an estimated 2,500 of them!
© Shutterstock
57 / 60 Fotos
Hirosaki Castle - It's no coincidence that the traditional Hanami festival happens here, which centers around admiring the beauty of the cherry blossom.
© Shutterstock
58 / 60 Fotos
Japanese castles - Have you decided which of the Japanese castles you'd like to visit yet? A beautiful journey awaits you, whichever one you choose!
© Shutterstock
59 / 60 Fotos
An historic journey through Japan's most incredible castles
- Visiting Japan without seeing at least one of its famous castles is almost the same as not visiting at all! These incredible constructions date back to the Medieval period and have stood defiant through civil wars, world wars, and other attacks.
Beautiful relics of Japan's past, these castles also boast museums, stunning gardens and spectacular scenery. Join us on a journey to visit the most incredible ones!
© Shutterstock
0 / 60 Fotos
A bit of history - Let's start with a bit of history behind these stunning ancient castles.
© Shutterstock
1 / 60 Fotos
First constructions - According to historians, the first castles in Japan were built in the 14th century.
© Shutterstock
2 / 60 Fotos
High up - The majority of them are built high up in the mountains.
© Shutterstock
3 / 60 Fotos
Reasons - This is because the majority of the castles were built in the Medieval period, and served as fortresses.
© Shutterstock
4 / 60 Fotos
Strategic position - Castles were also built for keeping watch over ports or roads.
© Shutterstock
5 / 60 Fotos
Names - Most castles were named after the cities in which they were built.
© Shutterstock
6 / 60 Fotos
Diversity - Across Japan there are a whole range of stunning castles to be discovered, including ruins, original structures, or redesigned ones.
© Shutterstock
7 / 60 Fotos
Preservation - A lot of these old buildings now house museums where ancient relics are preserved.
© Shutterstock
8 / 60 Fotos
Legislation - Japanese law is extremely strict when it comes to preserving national relics.
© Shutterstock
9 / 60 Fotos
Tour - Now you've learnt a little Japanese history, we're going to take you on a tour to visit some of the countries most incredible castles!
© Shutterstock
10 / 60 Fotos
Himeji Castle - Himeji Castle is located in the Kansai region of Japan, and was built in 1346.
© Shutterstock
11 / 60 Fotos
Himeji Castle - The castle was originally built as a wooden fort, meaning that it's full of winding alleyways, which aimed to prevent invaders from reaching their destination.
© Shutterstock
12 / 60 Fotos
Himeji Castle - During the Second World War, the castle was struck by two bombing raids, but luckily no lasting damage was sustained.
© Shutterstock
13 / 60 Fotos
Himeji Castle - Locals recommend visiting the castle during the flowering season of the Sakura tree, which produces sweet cherry blossom and transforms the landscape into a magical scene.
© Shutterstock
14 / 60 Fotos
Matsumoto Castle - This is Matsumoto castle. The breath-taking construction is a prized Japanese national treasure.
© Shutterstock
15 / 60 Fotos
Matsumoto Castle - It was built in the city of Matsumoto in the 14th century.
© Shutterstock
16 / 60 Fotos
Matsumoto Castle - The castle differs from other similar constructions in that it was not built high up in the mountains.
© Shutterstock
17 / 60 Fotos
Matsumoto Castle - Winter is a great time to visit this place, as the snow adds great beauty to the castle.
© Shutterstock
18 / 60 Fotos
Osaka Castle - It's nothing short of incredible that Osaka castle still stands today.
© Shutterstock
19 / 60 Fotos
Osaka Castle - Built in 1583, the castle was destroyed twice in the following century.
© Shutterstock
20 / 60 Fotos
Osaka Castle - It was destroyed by a clan the first time, then struck by lightening the second. Later it was also subject to attacks in the Second World War.
© Shutterstock
21 / 60 Fotos
Osaka Castle - But the good news is that it survived all these atrocities, and today stands as one of Japan's biggest tourist attractions.
© Shutterstock
22 / 60 Fotos
Okayama Castle - The beauty of Okayama castle stars with its golden roof tiles.
© Shutterstock
23 / 60 Fotos
Okayama Castle - The castle was originally built in 1597, but had to be rebuilt in 1966 after it was destroyed in the Second World War.
© Shutterstock
24 / 60 Fotos
Okayama Castle - This means the structure has a unique blend of old and new which has to be seen to be believed!
© Shutterstock
25 / 60 Fotos
Okayama Castle - Okayama castle is also a museum which puts on several exhibitions throughout the year.
© Shutterstock
26 / 60 Fotos
Nagoya Castle - Nagoya castle is one of Japan's most important historical structures.
© Shutterstock
27 / 60 Fotos
Nagoya Castle - Visiting the castle today, you'd never believe that it was once a prison and army barracks.
© Shutterstock
28 / 60 Fotos
Nagoya Castle - An aerial attack during the Second World War sadly destroyed the castle and many objects inside it.
© Shutterstock
29 / 60 Fotos
Nagoya Castle - The interiors of the castle are now home to a museum.
© Shutterstock
30 / 60 Fotos
Kumamoto Castle - Kumamoto castle is one of the three most important castles in Japan.
© Shutterstock
31 / 60 Fotos
Kumamoto Castle - However, this is not the castle's original structure.
© Shutterstock
32 / 60 Fotos
Kumamoto Castle - The original castle was actually destroyed during a civil war in the 19th century.
© Shutterstock
33 / 60 Fotos
Kumamoto Castle - But it has been redesigned so cleverly that visitors believe that they are in the original building.
© Shutterstock
34 / 60 Fotos
Matsue Castle - Matsue castle is unique for its wooden structure, which it has been able to maintain up to the present day.
© Shutterstock
35 / 60 Fotos
Matsue Castle - Built between 1607 and 1611, it is the sixth oldest castle in Japan.
© Shutterstock
36 / 60 Fotos
Matsue Castle - It is also the second largest Japanese castle.
© Shutterstock
37 / 60 Fotos
Matsue Castle - The color of its walls draw a stunning contrast with the surrounding gardens.
© Shutterstock
38 / 60 Fotos
Tsuruga Castle - Tsuruga castle wasn't always known by that name. Some say that when it was built in 1384 it was called Kurokawa.
© Shutterstock
39 / 60 Fotos
Tsuruga Castle - In the 19th century, however, its structure was badly damaged during a civil war.
© Shutterstock
40 / 60 Fotos
Tsuruga Castle - But at the beginning of the 1900s the castle underwent restoration.
© Shutterstock
41 / 60 Fotos
Tsuruga Castle - Today you can visit the castle, museum, and it's gorgeous gardens.
© Shutterstock
42 / 60 Fotos
Hiroshima Castle - Hiroshima castle came to a sad end with the dropping of the atomic bomb on the city during the Second World War.
© Shutterstock
43 / 60 Fotos
Hiroshima Castle - It was completely wiped out, along with huge swathes of the city's population.
© Shutterstock
44 / 60 Fotos
Hiroshima Castle - Over 10 years after the end of the war, the castle was miraculously rebuilt, remaining faithful to its original construction.
© Shutterstock
45 / 60 Fotos
Hiroshima Castle - Here there is something to suit any visitor, whether it's relaxing in the garden, marveling at spectacular views from the tower, or visiting the museum inside.
© Shutterstock
46 / 60 Fotos
Matsuyama Castle - Just traveling to Matsuyama castle gives your eyes a feast! It's located in the exquisitely beautiful Shiroyama Park.
© Shutterstock
47 / 60 Fotos
Matsuyama Castle - The structure has three floors and a museum with Samurai weapons and armor.
© Shutterstock
48 / 60 Fotos
Matsuyama Castle - If you love mysteries, then this castle has many more exciting features beyond the museum.
© Shutterstock
49 / 60 Fotos
Matsuyama Castle - It has crafty measures of defense against its enemies, including secret tunnels and rooms.
© Shutterstock
50 / 60 Fotos
Inuyama Castle - Close to the city of Nagoya is Inuyama castle.
© Shutterstock
51 / 60 Fotos
Inuyama Castle - The castle is rare for having avoided damage through various periods of war and conflict.
© Shutterstock
52 / 60 Fotos
Inuyama Castle - It has been considered a Japanese National Treasure during its history.
© Shutterstock
53 / 60 Fotos
Inuyama Castle - Curiously, two of its four floors are underground.
© Shutterstock
54 / 60 Fotos
Hirosaki Castle - Hirosaki castle was built in the region of Tohoku, between the Iwaki and Tsuchibuchi rivers.
© Shutterstock
55 / 60 Fotos
Hirosaki Castle - It was built in 1611.
© Shutterstock
56 / 60 Fotos
Hirosaki Castle - The public park which surrounds Hirosaki castle is full of magical cherry trees: an estimated 2,500 of them!
© Shutterstock
57 / 60 Fotos
Hirosaki Castle - It's no coincidence that the traditional Hanami festival happens here, which centers around admiring the beauty of the cherry blossom.
© Shutterstock
58 / 60 Fotos
Japanese castles - Have you decided which of the Japanese castles you'd like to visit yet? A beautiful journey awaits you, whichever one you choose!
© Shutterstock
59 / 60 Fotos
An historic journey through Japan's most incredible castles
Discover the history of Japan by visiting some of its most beautiful defensive monuments
© Shutterstock
Take a historical tour of Japan by visiting its magnificent castles! These Medieval structures are beautiful relics of the country's past, and boast museums, beautiful gardens and spectacular scenery. Join us on a journey to visit the most incredible Japanese castles!
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