1. Castles
Famous and not so famous :)

3. Himeji Castle is the most visited of the three and is known by many as
the “White Heron” castle due to its bright white exterior. It is on the
list of UNESCO World Cultural and Heritage Sites. The castle was built
over a number of years starting in 1333 and being completed in 1346.
Like many castles in Japan, it features tall stone foundations. However,
Himeji Castle is unique for its complex and confusing paths which lead
to the main stronghold. These mazes of paths were constructed with
many dead ends, thus providing a strategic advantage to those
guarding the castle. Himeji Castle has been used extensively in both
Japanese and foreign films. Amongst its credits include: Abarenbo
Shogun; You Only Live Twice (James Bond); Kagemusha (film by Akira
Kurosawa); Ran (film by Akira Kurosawa); The Last Samurai (starring
Tom Cruise); and Shogun (miniseries staring Richard Chamberlin).
Himeji Castle in Hyogo

5. Matsumoto Castle is an excellent example of a castle built on a plain vs. a
hilltop or mountain. Built in the 1580’s, Matsumoto Castle is also known as
“Crow Castle” because of its black walls which appear to be spreading wings.
In 1872, following the Meiji Restoration, the tower was sold at auction. Like
so many castles in Japan, the Japanese government determined that the cost
of maintenance was too high and the castles provided limited military value.
However, a local citizen of Matsumoto, Ichikawa Ryozo saved it from the
auctioneers and the castle was purchased by local citizens in 1878. The most
intriguing part of the castle is its main stronghold. When viewing from the
outside, it appears that it has 3 stories but in reality it has 4. The hidden floor
was used for concealing defenses. Before leaving Matsumoto Castle, it is a
must to stroll around the moat which is home to large colored koi and black
swans.
Matsumoto Castle in Nagano

7. Built in 1607, it is known for its curved stone walls which act as
a defense against attackers as it prevents the walls from being
scaled. In the Seinan Rebellion, samurai forces led by Saigo
Takamori marched to Kumamoto Castle expecting a quick
victory. However, the small band of government forces in the
castle refused to give up. The castle at the end was destroyed
by fire and lay in ruins for many centuries. It was rebuilt in
1960 with the castle’s main keep now serving as a museum of
the days of the samurai of Kumamoto. In the museum, you can
find displays of armor, swords, and uniforms used during the
Seinan Rebellion. One can climb to the top of the castle for a
view of Kumamoto city and the castle grounds.
Kumamoto Castle in Kumamoto

9. The construction of Osaka Castle (大阪城, Ōsakajō) started in 1583 on the
former site of the Ishiyama Honganji Temple, which had been destroyed by
Oda Nobunaga thirteen years earlier. Toyotomi Hideyoshi intended thecastle to
become the center of a new, unified Japan under Toyotomi rule. It was the
largest castle at the time.
However, a few years after Hideyoshi's death, Tokugawa troops attacked and
destroyed the castle and terminated the Toyotomi lineage in 1615. Osaka
Castle was rebuilt by Tokugawa Hidetada in the 1620s, but its main castle
tower was struck by lightening in 1665 and burnt down.
It was not until 1931 that the present ferro-concrete reconstruction of the castle
tower was built. During the war it miraculously survived the city wide air raids.
Major repair works gave the castle new glamor in 1997. The castle tower is
now entirely modern on the inside and even features an elevator for easier
accessibility. It houses an informative museum about the castle's history and
Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Osaka Castle in Osaka

11. The castle as it stands today was established in 1537 by Nobunaga's
grandfather Oda Nobuyasu.
According to a Heian period book called "Enkishiki," at the site where Inuyama
castle now stands, there was a shrine called Harigane Shrine (Harigane Jinja).
This temple was later moved to Shirayamadaira to make way for the castle.
Inuyama-jo was famous for being the only privately owned castle in Japan. It
had a few different owners early on, and was seized by the Meiji government
who held it in their possession from 1872 to 1895. It suffered damage during an
earthquake in 1891 and was returned to the Naruse family in 1895 under the
condition that they repair the damages continue to keep up the castle into the
future. It was recently sold to the city of Inuyama and will soon be taken over by
Aichi Prefecture.
Inuyama Castle in Inuyama, Aichi

12. 12 Original Castles
Castle
Bitchu-Matsuyama
Inuyama
Hikone
Himeji
Hirosaki
Kochi
Marugame
Maruoka
Mastue
Matsumoto
Matsuyama
Uwajima
Japanese
name
備中松山
犬山
彦根
姫路
弘前
高知
丸亀
丸岡
松枝
松本
松山
宇和島
P
refecture
Okayama
Gifu
Saga
Hyogo
Aomori
Kochi
Kagawa
Fukui
Shimane
Nagano
Ehime
Ehime
First
construction
1240
1440
-
1333
1611
1611
-
1576
-
-
1603
-
Last
reconstruction
?
1537
1622
1580
1627/1810
1753
1597
(1955)
1611
1595
1854
1665