Karakawa Castle (唐川城) was a mountain castle built about three kilometres north as a branch castle of Fukushima Castle on the north shore of Lake Jūsan (十三湖). It is thought that it served as a lookout tower as it overlooks both the lake and the Sea of Japan.
While visiting Fukushima Castle, I...
Fukushima Castle (福島城 Fukushima-jō) is a medieval castle built on a hill at an altitude of 20 to 30 meters facing the north shore of Lake Jūsan (十三湖 Jūsanko) in the western part of the Tsugaru Peninsula, Aomori Prefecture.
The castle consisted of an inner wall (内郭 naikaku) and an outer wall...
Nakasato Castle (中里城 Nakasato-jō) is a mountain castle (山城 Yamashiro) built in Nakadomari Town in the western part of the Tsugaru Peninsula.
The site seems to have already been used in the Jomon period, as it is located on a plateau facing the Tsugaru Plain, which is in ideal conditions for a...
Namioka Castle (浪岡城 Namioka-jō) was a flatland castle (平城 hirajiro) located in the former town of Namioka, southwest of Aomori City. The castle ruins were designated a National Historic Site in 1940. They were added to the "Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles" in 2017.
Namioka Castle was ruled...
Kinugasa Castle (衣笠城 Kinugasa-jō) is a mountain castle located in the hilly area of the southern part of the Miura Peninsula, approximately four kilometres south of the centre of Yokosuka City.
As a result of his military achievements in the Former Nine Years' War, Taira no Tamemichi (平為通...
Funehiki Castle (船引城 Funehiki-jō) was a small fort located in Funehiki-chō, Tamura, Fukushima.
It is a virtually unknown castle in history and would generally be rarely visited. However, I saw this signboard for "Funehiki Castle Ruins Entrance" on the way to my relative's house, and I had...
Mukai-Haguroyama Castle (向羽黒山城 Mukaihaguroyamajō) was a mountain castle (山城 yamashiro) in Aizumisato Town, Onuma District, Fukushima.
In 2001, the castle was designated a National Historic Site (国指定史跡 Kuni shitei shiseki), and on 6 April 2017, it was ranked as one of Japan's Finest 100 castles...
Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle (会津若松城) was the centre of the Aizu domain and the stage for one of the last big battles of the Boshin War. Locals refer to it as 'Tsurugajo' (鶴ヶ城).
History:
The castle was initially known as Kurokawa Castle (黒川城), home to the Ashina clan (蘆名氏), which had ruled the Aizu...
Inawashiro Castle (猪苗代城 Inawashiro-jō) is a mountain castle (平山城 hirayamashiro) in Inawashiro, Fukushima. It is also known as Kamegajō (亀ヶ城) and was designated a Historic Site of Fukushima.
History:
In the early Kamakura period, Sawara Yoshitsura (佐原義連) of the Miura clan (三浦氏) was given the...
Akadate Castle (赤館城 Akadate-jō) is a mountain castle built on a hill in Tanagura, Fukushima.
This hill is only 345 metres high, but it was the dividing line between the Kantō and Tōhoku regions, connecting Ibaraki along the Kuji River to the south and Fukushima and Miyagi along the Abukuma...
Tanagura Castle (棚倉城 Tanagura-jō), also known as Kamegajō Castle (亀ケ城), is a flatland castle (平城 hirajiro) in modern-day Tanagura, Higashishirakawa, Fukushima Prefecture. In 2019, the former castle grounds were designated a National Historic Site.
From the Kamakura period to the early Edo...
Kasama Castle (笠間城 Kasama-jō) is a mountain castle (山城 yamashiro) built on Mount Sajiro (佐白山) in Kasama City, west of Mito.
In the early Kamakura period, Shiotani Tokitomo (塩谷時朝) of the Utsunomiya clan entered the area and built Kasama Castle. Tokitomo, who adopted the family name Kasama...
Mito Castle (水戸城 Mito-jō) was a Japanese castle located in Mito, Ibaraki, Hitachi Province (present-day Sanomaru, Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture). During the Edo period, it was the residence of the Mito Tokugawa family, one of the three Tokugawa families, and the seat of government of the Mito clan...
Obata Castle (小幡城 Obatajō) is a flatland castle (平城 hirajiro) built in Ibaraki Town, south of Mito.
Although it is not well known to the general public, it is highly rated by castle enthusiasts who have visited it because of the excellent condition of the remains and its unique and complex...
Ōtaki Castle (大多喜城 Ōtakijō) was a flat mountain castle located in the town of Ōtaki, Isumi, south-eastern Chiba Prefecture.
In the Middle Ages, the area was known as Ōtaki. Hence, the name of the castle derived from the locality. In the first half of the 16th century, the Mariyatsu Takeda...
Ōgaki Castle (大垣城 Ōgakijō) was a flatland castle (平城 hirajiro or hirajō) in Ōgaki, western Mino Province (modern-day Gifu Prefecture). It is also known as Kyoroku Castle (巨鹿城 Kyorokujō) or Bi Castle (麇城 Bijō).
Castellans of Ōgaki during the Edo period:
1601-15: Ishikawa Yasumichi (石川康通) and...
Sone Castle (曽根城 or 曾根城 Sone-jō) was a castle located in Sone-chō, Ogaki, Gifu Prefecture dating back to the Sengoku Period. It has been designated a historic site by Ogaki City.
The castle was a flatland castle built on a bend of the Hiranoi River (平野井川), a tributary of the Ibi River (揖斐川)...
Kitagata Castle (北方城) is a flat castle located in Kitagata Town, Motosu-gun, about five kilometres northwest of central Gifu City. It was designated a Historical Site of Gifu Prefecture.
The castle was built and occupied by Iga Taroemon Mitsunari (伊賀太郎衛門光就). The fourth lord of the castle, Iga...
Gifu Castle (岐阜城 Gifu-jō) is a mountain castle built on Kinkazan (金華山, 329 meters above sea level) in the northern part of Gifu City. It was the residence of Oda Nobunaga and was designated a Historical Site of Japan in 2011.
The first fortification on Kinkazan was built in 1201 by Nikaidō...
Kanō Castle (加納城 Kanō-jō) was a flatland (平城 hirajirō) castle located in modern-day Gifu City. When people hear Gifu, they first think of Gifu Castle, but it was here in Kanō Castle, where the political centre of Gifu was during the Edo period. Kanō-juku (加納宿) was the fifty-third of the...
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.