Discover Japan’s Twelve Original Castles

A thrilling aspect of visiting Japan for many people is the culture – the shrines, the temples, and of course, the castles. Across much of the Japanese mainland, it is relatively easy to fit a castle visit into one’s itinerary. However, some are surprised to learn that almost all of Japan’s castles were dismantled after 1868 when samurai rule came to an end, or else lost during the second world war. Many of the castles you see in Japan today are in fact, modern replicas. Although these replicas can still be an incredible learning experience – featuring historic artifacts from their respective regions, sometimes even going so far as to be recreated using the original materials – there are still those who want to see castles in their original form. Below we’ve compiled a list of Japan’s twelve, still-standing original castles that are bound to impress, while introducing you to some parts of Japan you may not otherwise encounter.