Japan castles map for planning your first trip to Japan

Kon’nichiwa!

Your visit to see a castle in Japan can be a quicker one if you just want to SEE it, or it can be longer if you want to further explore the castle grounds and walk inside it.

You can see castles from outside for free.

You can also walk inside the castles for a fee. What you can see inside varies from castle to castle. Some maintain a more of a traditional feel while also having informational displays, and some have more of a museum feel to them where the inside is more modernized.

For those that keep a more traditional feel than others, it may mean that they have very steep steps. Some also require shoes off to help keep the floors better maintained.

There are also castles in which you can climb to the top of the castle tower to see amazing views of the city from above.

It’s possible to visit the castles in Japan on your own. There are also guided tours available that will give you a greater appreciation of what you’re seeing, as well as a greater context of the historical roles of the castle in Japan as a whole.

Below is an interactive map I created on google mymaps of castles that will be convenient to visit if you’ll be in Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka.

First I want to explain what’s on the map, and hopefully that will give you a better idea of how to include at least one castle visit during your trip to Japan!

 

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The best castles to visit in Japan are widely said to be Himeji Castle (day trip from Osaka/Kyoto/Hiroshima), Osaka Castle (Osaka/Kyoto day trip), and Matsumoto Castle (day trip from Tokyo/Nagano).

The best castle day trip from Tokyo is to Matsumoto Castle, and you can also do a day trip to Odawara Castle. Tokyo itself doesn’t have a standing castle, but you can visit the Tokyo Imperial Palace where Edo Castle once was, and you will get castle vibes by walking around the moat!

There are also a number of castles that you can make a stop at along the way when you are traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka, or between Kyoto/Osaka and Hiroshima.

Now, here’s what’s on the map!

If you want to go straight to the map, here you go: Japan castles map

 

Cities with castles on the Golden Route of Japan
Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima

These are castles that are located in cities that are on the classic Japan tourist route (aka Golden Route of Japan!), which include Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima.

 

Osaka Castle (TOP CASTLES IN JAPAN) | reviews
It’s 10 minutes by train from Osaka Station to Osakajokoen Station.

Kyoto: Nijo Castle | reviews
It’s 10 minutes by train from Kyoto Station to Nijo Station.

Hiroshima Castle | reviews
It’s a 20 minute walk from the Hiroshima nuclear peace park to Hiroshima Castle, as well as from Hiroshima Station. You can also get closer by public transportation.

Tokyo: Edo Castle ruins at Tokyo Imperial Palace | reviews
It’s a 10-15 minute walk from Tokyo Station to the Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens.

 

 

Castle day trips or Golden Route stops along the way

These are castles that aren’t directly in the major Golden Route cities, but you can make it a day trip from one of the cities… or you can stop by along the way as you travel between the cities! Train stations have “coin lockers” that you can use for luggage storage.

 

Himeji Castle (TOP CASTLES IN JAPAN) | reviews
Himeji Station

You can do a day trip to Himeji Castle from Osaka, Kyoto, or Hiroshima. Osaka Station to Himeji is 1 hour minutes by local train. Kyoto Station to Himeji is 1.5 hours by local train, and it’s 50 minutes by shinkansen bullet train. Hiroshima Station to Himeji is 1 hour by shinkansen.

You can also make Himeji a stop along the way as you are traveling from Kyoto to Hiroshima or Osaka to Hiroshima.
Osaka/Kyoto to Himeji: 1-1.5 hours by train
Himeji Station to Hiroshima Station: 1 hour by shinkansen bullet train

More: Himeji and Hiroshima in one day

 

Odawara Castle | reviews
Odawara Station

You can do a day trip to Odawara Castle from Tokyo. Tokyo Station to Odawara is 1.5 hours by local train, or it’s 35 minutes by shinkansen bullet train. Odawara Station is also a gateway to Hakone, and you can make time to go to the castle on the day you do a day trip to Hakone.

You can also make Odawara a stop along the way as you are traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto.
Tokyo Station to Odawara Station: 35 minutes shinkansen or 1.5 hours local
Odawara to Kyoto Station shinkansen bullet train: 2 hours 5 minutes
Odawara to Shin-Osaka Station shinkansen: 2.5 hours

More: Walking from Odawara Station to Odawara Castle

 

Okayama Castle | reviews
Okayama Station

You can do a day trip to Okayama Castle from Osaka, Kyoto, or Hiroshima. Shin-Osaka station to Okayama is 45 minutes by shinkansen. Kyoto Station to Okayama is 1 hour by shinkansen. Hiroshima to Okayama is 40 minutes by shinkansen.

You can also make Okayama a stop along the way as you are traveling from Kyoto to Hiroshima or Osaka to Hiroshima.
Osaka/Kyoto to Okayama: 45-60 minutes by shinkansen
Okayama to Hiroshima: 40 minutes by shinkansen

More: Okayama Castle to Marugame Castle

 

Hikone Castle | reviews
Hikone Station

You can do a day trip to Hikone Castle from Kyoto, Osaka, or Nagoya. Kyoto Station to Hikone is a 1 hour train ride. Osaka Station to Hikone is a 1 hour 15 minute train ride. Nagoya Station to Hikone Station is 1.5 hours by local train.

You can also make Hikone a stop along the way as you are traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto or Tokyo to Osaka.
Tokyo to Hikone (2.5 hours): Tokyo to Maibara Station shinkansen > transfer > Maibara to Hikone local train
Hikone to Kyoto (1 hour): Hikone to Kyoto Station local train
Hikone to Osaka (1 hour 15 minutes): Hikone to Osaka Station local train

 

 

Central Japan castles

Castles in Central Japan include Matsumoto, Nagoya, and Kanazawa.

 

Matsumoto Castle (TOP CASTLES IN JAPAN) | reviews
Matsumoto Station

You can do a day trip to Matsumoto Castle from Tokyo. Shinjuku Station in Tokyo to Matsumoto Station is 2.5 hours direct by limited express train.

You can also make Matsumoto a part of a greater Central Japan itinerary and stay a night or 2. Staying in Matsumoto would give you an opportunity to do day trips to places like the historic Nakasendo samurai trail, Kamikochi in the Japanese Alps (spring/summer/fall), or the snow monkey park in Nagano (best in winter).

 

Kanazawa Castle | reviews
Kanazawa Station

You can make it a day of Kanazawa Castle and more by adding Kanazawa to your New Golden Route Japan itinerary and staying a night or more! Staying in Kanazawa gives you time to visit the castle, samurai homes, and have more traditional Japanese experiences. You can also do a day trip to the world heritage Shirakawago rural village.

 

Maruoka Castle | reviews
Awara Onsen Station

You can make it a day trip to Maruoka Castle from Kanazawa. Kanazawa Station to Awara Onsen Station is 1 hour by local train, and it’s 30 minutes by shinkansen. Then, you’ll take a 20 minute bus ride.

You can also make Maruoka Castle a stop along the way as you are traveling from Kanazawa to Kyoto. As an onsen town, it can make for a perfect overnight stop so you can have a traditional Japanese stay in an onsen hot springs town! For a daytime stop with luggage, there are limited coin lockers available at Awara Onsen Station, with 2 big lockers. I think that would make me nervous. The Maruoka Castle website does say there is luggage storage available on-site. There are more coin lockers available at Fukui Station, although the bus ride to the castle is longer at 50 minutes.

 

Nagoya Castle | reviews
It’s 10 minutes by train from Nagoya Station to Nagoyajo Station.

 

Inuyama Castle | reviews
Inuyamayuen Station

You can do a day trip to Inuyama Castle from Nagoya. Nagoya Station to Inuyamayuen Station is 50 minutes by limited express train.

 

 

12 Original castles of Japan

Most castles in Japan are reconstructed castles because they were destroyed or damaged in some way. There are generally 12 castles that are recognized as “original castles.” These are castles in which the original keeps have survived throughout the years.

On the map, original castles are marked with an *asterisk.

• Matsumoto Castle (Central Japan/Tokyo day trip)
• Himeji Castle (day trip from Osaka/Kyoto/Hiroshima)
• Hikone Castle (day trip from Kyoto/Osaka/Nagoya)
• Maruoka Castle (Kanazawa day trip)
• Inuyama Castle (Nagoya day trip)
• Bicchu Matsuyama Castle (Okayama)
• Matsue Castle (Shikoku)
• Marugame Castle (Shikoku)
• Kochi Castle (Shikoku)
• Uwajima Castle (Shikoku)
• Matsuyama Castle (Shikoku)
• Hirosaki Castle (Northern Japan/Aomori day trip)

 

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Japan castles map

👇 Explore the interactive map below of castles in Japan! Zoom in to get started and click on the icons for details!

If you are having problems viewing or using the map, you can view it directly on google maps.

 

JAPAN TRAVEL > TOKYO MAP | KYOTO MAP | CENTRAL JAPAN MAP
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