7 notable sites ranked among the world's top 100
Known as 'White Heron Castle' for its brilliant white exterior, this is Japan's most spectacular castle with 83 buildings and a complex defensive network.
UNESCO World Heritage, Japan's finest surviving feudal castle.
Known as 'Crow Castle' for its striking black exterior. One of Japan's five original castles, featuring the oldest surviving five-tier castle keep.
National Treasure of Japan, oldest five-story castle keep.
Built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to unify Japan, this castle played a central role in Japanese history. The current tower is a 1931 concrete reconstruction.
Symbol of Osaka, central to Japanese unification history.
Built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, famous for its 'nightingale floors' designed to chirp when walked upon to alert of intruders.
UNESCO World Heritage, famous nightingale floors.
One of only twelve original Japanese castle keeps. Known as the 'Black Castle' or 'Plover Castle' for its distinctive black exterior.
National Treasure, one of 12 original castle keeps.
The northernmost Japanese castle and the only traditional castle in Hokkaido, famous for its 10,000 cherry trees.
Northernmost Japanese castle, 10,000 cherry trees.
The royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom, blending Chinese and Japanese architectural styles. Extensively rebuilt after WWII and a 2019 fire.
UNESCO World Heritage, Ryukyu Kingdom palace.