Japan Castle Atlas

Browse by prefecture

Travel through all 47 prefectures by photograph and by what this atlas has verified so far.

Region

Chubu

The three-story Sangai Yagura rising beyond the moat and stone walls, May 2020. Rebuilt in wood in 2004, it served as Shibata Castle's de facto keep.

Niigata

69 castles

9 candidates under review

Drph17CC BY 4.0Wikimedia Commons

A moat of Takaoka Castle framed by fresh spring greenery, May 2010. The moats keep almost the shape they had when the castle was built.

Toyama

74 castles

3 candidates under review

くろふねCC BY 3.0Wikimedia Commons

The Chodomaru bailey in the cedar forest, May 2009. Stone walls supporting the baileys can be seen behind. Accessible paths have changed since the 2024 earthquake, so check the city's latest notice.

Ishikawa

22 castles

30 candidates under review

tom-springPublic domainWikimedia Commons

Maruoka Castle's keep on its stone base, May 2010. It is an original Edo-period keep and an Important Cultural Property. It is under repair from March 2026 to November 2027 (planned) and is covered by scaffolding and sheeting for part of that time.

Fukui

28 castles

5 candidates under review

baku13CC BY-SA 2.1 jpWikimedia Commons

A weeping cherry and Inari Yagura, a turret rebuilt in 2004, April 2019.

Yamanashi

23 castles

1 candidates under review

江戸村のとくぞうCC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons

San-no-mon, the gate at the entrance to Kaikoen Park, August 2017. Washed away in a great flood in 1742 and rebuilt around 1765–66, it is an Important Cultural Property. The "Kaikoen" plaque above the opening was written by Tokugawa Iesato.

Nagano

121 castles

21 candidates under review

Asturio CantabrioCC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons

The keep on the summit of Mount Kinka, January 2022. It is a reconstruction built in reinforced concrete in 1956. From late August 2026 to mid-April 2027 (planned) it is wrapped in scaffolding and sheeting for renovation and cannot be seen.

Gifu

139 castles

27 candidates under review

AlpsdakeCC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons

Kakegawa Castle's keep, mid-March 2018. Rebuilt in wood in 1994, it has three roofs outside and four floors inside.

Shizuoka

75 castles

122 candidates under review

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

The Honmaru Palace (front) and the keep, March 2018. The palace was rebuilt in wood and completed in 2018; the keep is a 1959 steel-reinforced concrete reconstruction, closed since May 2018.

Aichi

179 castles

23 candidates under review

名古屋太郎CC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons

Region

Chugoku

Mount Kyusho and the layered stone walls of Tottori Castle at its foot, April 2019. The summit holds the older mountaintop castle; the walls below are the Edo-period lower castle.

Tottori

48 castles

103 candidates under review

Saigen JiroCC0Wikimedia Commons

The National Treasure keep seen from the main enclosure, March 2015. Completed around 1611, it is one of Japan's original surviving keeps. The lower wing in front is the attached entrance turret (tsuke-yagura).

Shimane

34 castles

10 candidates under review

663highlandCC BY 2.5Wikimedia Commons

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.

Okayama

52 castles

52 candidates under review

高梁浩洋CC0Wikimedia Commons

Hiroshima Castle's keep across the moat, August 2025. This reinforced-concrete keep was rebuilt in 1958 to match the original exterior, and closed to visitors on March 22, 2026. It can still be viewed from outside.

Hiroshima

64 castles

12 candidates under review

ノボホショコロトソCC BY 4.0Wikimedia Commons

The inner moat, the stone base of the keep and Mt. Shizuki behind. The keep was dismantled in 1874; the stone walls and moat remain. October 2005.

Yamaguchi

24 castles

5 candidates under review

renfield kurodaCC BY-SA 2.0Wikimedia Commons

Region

Shikoku

The inner moat and stone walls. Tokushima Castle's walls are built of local bluish-green schist, known as aoishi. October 2007.

Tokushima

47 castles

43 candidates under review

663highlandCC BY 2.5Wikimedia Commons

Marugame Castle's keep on top of its high stone walls. The wooden keep was completed in 1660 and survives from the Edo period. April 2025.

Kagawa

15 castles

31 candidates under review

たいたいたいたいCC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons

The keep in the main enclosure, linked by corridors to Daidokoro Yagura and Koran Yagura, December 2020. The keep is a 2004 wooden restoration; the two turrets survive from the Edo period and are Important Cultural Properties.

Ehime

40 castles

32 candidates under review

Saigen JiroCC0Wikimedia Commons

The keep and the attached main-enclosure palace (Kaitokukan), January 2017. The keep was rebuilt in 1749 and survives from the Edo period together with the other buildings of the main enclosure.

Kochi

18 castles

2 candidates under review

SuicasmoCC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons