Inuyama Castle – Original 12 Japanese Castle Tour
This is it! Inuyama castle (犬山城) was the last of the 12 original castles for me to visit. Located in Aichi Prefecture, it claims to be the oldest castle. Claims …
Maruoka Castle – Original 12 Japanese Castle Tour
Maruoka Castle claims to the oldest of the 12 original castles still in existence in Japan. I say “claims” because their signage all says so but they are not the …
Hikone Castle – 12 Original Japanese Castle Tour
We have a new second place castle! Hikone Castle (彦根城) in Shiga Prefecture! The main keep was finished in 1607. Sitting atop Hikoneyama, 彦根山, Hikone Mountain….it’s really just a hill. …
Matsue Castle – 12 Original Japanese Castle Tour
Matsue castle is one of the 12 remaining original castles in Japan. Being the farthest west from Tokyo, it was the first on the list for the remaining 4 I …
Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle – Japanese Castle Tour
I’m calling it, Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle 備中松山城 is the oldest of the twelve original Japanese castles. Not to be confused with Marugame Castle (丸亀城) which is the oldest on Shikoku. Or …
Marugame Castle – Japanese Castle Tour
Castle number 4 of my made-up castle tour to see 6 of the 12 remaining Edo castles was the last stop on 四国 Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s four main …
Uwajima Castle – Japanese Castle Tour
Uwajima Castle, 宇和島城, was Japanese Castle No. 2 for my castle tour weekend. One of the 12 remaining pre-Meiji era castles. It was also built around 1600. Which really, why are …