Ishikawa clan | Japan Castle Atlas

The main enclosure, with the original Edo-period keep at the back right and turrets, gates and walls rebuilt in 1997 in front. Photographed in 2026.

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Takahashi, Okayama

Bitchū Matsuyama Castle

備中松山城

Of the 12 original Edo-period keeps left in Japan, this is the only one that stands on a mountaintop.

Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 68CastleMountain

高梁浩洋CC0Wikimedia Commons

LordRecord source: jokaku

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Komoro, Nagano

Komoro Castle

小諸城

To reach this castle you walk down from the town, not up: Komoro is a "hole castle."

Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 26CastleHilltop

Asturio CantabrioCC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons

LordRecord source: jokaku

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Matsumoto, Nagano

Matsumoto Castle

松本城

A black keep built for war is joined to a red-railed moon-viewing turret built in a time of peace.

Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 27CastleFlatland

ManishprabhuneCC BY 4.0Wikimedia Commons

LordRecord source: jokaku

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Inuyama, Aichi

Inuyama Castle

犬山城

Atop a cliff over the Kiso River stands a keep built before the Edo period, and you can walk all the way around its top-floor balcony looking down on the river and the Nobi Plain.

Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 38CastleHilltop

AlpsdakeCC BY-SA 3.0Wikimedia Commons

LordRecord source: wikipedia

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Sakura, Chiba

Sakura Castle

佐倉城

A castle of earth and water, with no stone walls, whose lords included nine of the shogun's senior councilors.

Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 20CastleHilltop

Nankou OronainCC BY-SA 3.0Wikimedia Commons

LordRecord source: jokaku

In-depth article

Kakegawa, Shizuoka

Kakegawa Castle

掛川城

At the foot of a keep rebuilt in wood after 140 years stands an Edo-period palace that never left.

Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 46CastleHilltop

掛川市行政課(掛川市ウェブサイト)CC BY 4.0Wikimedia Commons

LordRecord source: wikipedia

In-depth article

Shiroishi, Miyagi

Shiroishi Castle

白石城

The castle of Katakura Kojuro, right-hand man to Date Masamune: allowed to survive as the Sendai domain's second castle after the one-castle-per-province rule, with its three-story turret rebuilt in wood and clay in 1995.

Next 100 Fine Castles No. 105CastleHilltop

Haseyu-Public domainWikimedia Commons

LordRecord source: jokaku