There are 12 original castle keeps remaining in Japan, not necessarily preserved exactly as first built, but maintained through repeated repairs in a form close to the original.
#OriginalCastleKeeps #JapaneseCastles #JapanHistory

#5 Matsumoto Castle: The Crow Castle of Nagano - The Castle Maniac’s Log This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a booking or purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. This is the fifth installment in our castle introduc...

Exploring the timeless beauty of Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan’s most stunning original castles. 🏯
A black-and-white masterpiece filled with samurai history, mountain views, and elegant architecture.
#MatsumotoCastle #JapaneseCastle #CastleLovers
samurai-castles.hatenablog.jp/entry/matsum...

#4 Hirosaki Castle: Eastern Japan’s Only Surviving Original Keep - The Castle Maniac’s Log This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a booking or purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Today, I'd like to take you on a journey north to th...

Hirosaki Castle holds eastern Japan’s only surviving original keep.

With cherry blossoms drifting across the moat, it may be Japan’s most magical spring castle.

#JapaneseCastles #HirosakiCastle
samurai-castles.hatenablog.jp/entry/hirosa...

Castle Trivia – Master Castle Builders Vol. 1: Tōdō Takatora - The Castle Maniac’s Log I’d like to share some castle-related trivia—broad, approachable stories connected to the world of Japanese castles. This time, the focus is on the people who actually built them: the master castle ar...

Tōdō Takatora shaped Japanese castle design.

From Imabari’s seawater moats to Iga Ueno’s stone walls, his castles fused defense with beauty.

A true master castle architect of the Sengoku era.

#JapaneseCastles #Samurai #TodoTakatora

samurai-castles.hatenablog.jp/entry/castle...

Beneath the swirling cherry blossom petals, little kindergarten children are laughing and dashing about. I want to protect the peace of Japan.

#sakura #japan

＃japan #fushimiinari
Soooooooo beautiful

#Japan #spring #sakura
Ohanami now

My son built a model of the original Osaka Castle!

Back in the day, Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s castle actually had black walls—very different from the white one we see today. The current version was actually rebuilt by Tokugawa Ieyasu! 🏯✨

#OsakaCastle #JapaneseHistory #ToyotomiHideyoshi

GM！
#hikonecastle #japan

Wait, I should have said "Hirayama-jiro" (hill castle) instead of Yamajiro! Either way, those stairs were brutal... lol 🏯💦

I went to the Hikone castle yesterday. Because it's one of YAMAZIRO （a mountain castle）, it was difficult to get to the main keep.
My legs……HAHAHAHA😅

#hikonecastle #Japanesecastle #shigaprefecture

Today's Obento for my husband & son.
Don't forget Misoshiru & Furikake!
#bento #Japanesefood

Pin on Japan Travel & Culture This Pin was discovered by Webライター関目いちこ. Discover (and save!) your own Pins on Pinterest.

Kochi Castle: One of the 12 original surviving castles in Japan. 🏯 The architectural beauty and history are truly fascinating. Read more on my castle blog!
#KochiCastle #JapaneseCastle

pin.it/ARhIPRlKB

Hatsumode at Kiyoshikojin. ⛩️ Love how a temple and a shrine coexist here. Warming up with Atsukan (Hot sake), Oden(Japanese hot pot), and Barazushi(Mixed sushi rice) afterward is my favorite Japanese winter tradition.
#Japan #Kiyoshikojin #Hatsumode #JapaneseFood #Winter

#3 Bitchu Matsuyama Castle: Japan’s Highest Original Mountain Castle - The Castle Maniac’s Log In this third post in my “Castle Notes” series, I introduce Bitchu Matsuyama Castle in Okayama Prefecture. To truly experience Matsuyama, exploring its castle history and the city with local insight i...

Above the clouds sits one of Japan’s most unique castles.
🏯 Bitchu Matsuyama Castle is not just beautiful — it’s full of history and strategy.

New article👇
samurai-castles.hatenablog.jp/entry/bitchu...

#BitchuMatsuyamaCastle #JapaneseCastles #SamuraiCastle #JapanHistory #CastlesOfJapan

It’s freezing across Japan right now, and we’re seeing beautiful snowy landscapes everywhere! There’s nothing quite like the sight of a Japanese castle covered in snow—it’s absolutely stunning. ❄️🏯
Photo by photoAC
#JapaneseCastle

Light Castle Trivia (Part 1): Black Castles and White Castles - The Castle Maniac’s Log There are castles all across Japan. In this series, Light Castle Trivia, we share small and interesting observations you might notice while exploring them. This time, we’re focusing on one simple but ...

Black castles 🖤 and white castles 🤍 — what’s the difference?

If you love Japanese history or castles, you’ll enjoy this:
I wrote about why castle colors mattered in Japan, with famous examples and stories.

👉 Read here: samurai-castles.hatenablog.jp/entry/black-...

#JapaneseCastles #JapanTravel

I'm stuffed…

What Defensive Features Did Japanese Castles Have?-Explained Through Himeji Castle - The Castle Maniac’s Log A Japanese castle is, at its core, a military structure.In other words, it existed for war. But today, since castles are no longer used for battle, many visitors walk around castle ruins without reall...

Himeji Castle: A beautiful "White Heron," or a deadly maze? 🏯⚔️

Explore the ingenious traps and military secrets hidden inside this impregnable fortress.

Full story here: samurai-castles.hatenablog.jp/entry/defens...

#HimejiCastle #JapanTravel

“Zekkei no Sakura Biyori 2026” — front cover © Taiyo Tosho Co., Ltd.

Two pages from the section “11 Famous Castles Adorned with Cherry Blossoms” in “Zekkei no Sakura Biyori 2026”, featuring Maruoka Castle, Hikone Castle, Matsumoto Castle, and Inuyama Castle during sakura season. © Taiyo Tosho Co., Ltd.

Two pages from the section “13 Spectacular Cherry Blossom Scenic Spots in the Kinki Region”, including the column “Appreciating Cherry Blossoms Alone,” in “Zekkei no Sakura Biyori 2026”, featuring cherry blossom spots in Nihonmatsu City, Kurume City, and Hokuto City. © Taiyo Tosho Co., Ltd.

Two pages from the section “14 Spectacular Cherry Blossom Scenic Spots in the Hokuriku & Chubu Regions”, including the column “Tours ‘Sakura Saku’ — Cherry Blossoms of Noto”, in “Zekkei no Sakura Biyori 2026”, featuring Noto Railway’s Noto-Kashima Station during sakura season. © Taiyo Tosho Co., Ltd.

“Zekkei no Sakura Biyori 2026” (絶景の桜日和2026 - A Perfect Day for Spectacular Cherry Blossoms 2026) features 100 must-see cherry blossom scenic spots across Japan. Published by Taiyo Tosho, the book is available in Japanese only and is intended for readers of Japanese.

I’m building an English blog about Japanese castles 🏯
Still small, but I post every week.
One day, I want people overseas to travel Japan because of it～

Mooorning 😄

Did you know the golden shachihoko on the keep’s roof have genders? The north one is male, and the south one is female.
Photo: photo-ac.com

This is Nagoya Castle — it’s HUGE!😆

What Defensive Features Did Japanese Castles Have?-Explained Through Himeji Castle - The Castle Maniac’s Log A Japanese castle is, at its core, a military structure.In other words, it existed for war. But today, since castles are no longer used for battle, many visitors walk around castle ruins without reall...

Himeji Castle: A beautiful "White Heron," or a deadly maze? 🏯⚔️

Explore the ingenious traps and military secrets hidden inside this impregnable fortress.

Full story here: samurai-castles.hatenablog.jp/entry/defens...

#HimejiCastle #JapanTravel

Ohayo! Sunny day here in Hyogo, Japan. Going to sip some coffee and decide what to tackle today. ☕️✨

Fun castle history fact 🏯

Before the Sengoku period, local lords could build fortresses freely.
But under the Tokugawa shogunate, castle lords were ordered to move.

Some daimyo were relocated as many as seven times in their lives —
all across Japan.

What is the Difference Between "Castle Ruins" and "Castle Site"? in Japan? — Jōseki (城跡) vs. Jōshi (城址) - The Castle Maniac’s Log Have you ever noticed two different Japanese words for “castle ruins” while traveling in Japan? When you check Google Maps or road signs, you often see the word jōseki (城跡).But when you arrive at the ...

What’s the difference between “Castle Ruins” and “Castle Site” in Japan? 🏯

In Japanese, we say jōseki and jōshi — but they’re not the same!
I wrote a short guide in English 👇
samurai-castles.hatenablog.jp/entry/differ...

Did you know? Most Japanese castles didn’t have living quarters in their main keep. 🏯
The tenshu (main keep) was mainly for defense and showing status.

#JapaneseCastles #History #Architecture #Tenshu