7 castles in this category.
Built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603 as his Kyoto residence, Nijo Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Ninomaru Palace with its famous 'nightingale floors' (which chirp when walked on) and the stunning painted sliding doors are masterpieces of the Edo period.
Japan's finest and most complete castle, Himeji is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Treasure. Its dazzling white plaster walls and complex of 83 buildings earn it the name 'White Heron Castle.' The original 17th-century main keep has never been destroyed or rebuilt.
A UNESCO World Heritage Gusuku (Ryukyuan castle) on a high ridge in northern Okinawa, the seat of the 'Northern Mountain' king before Ryukyu was unified. The sinuous layered limestone walls, up to 8 meters high, are the longest of any Gusuku and frame breathtaking views of the East China Sea.
A UNESCO World Heritage Gusuku in Yomitanson, Okinawa, built by the great castle architect Gosamaru in the early 15th century. Its double-layered curved walls feature the first-ever use of arched castle gates (rounded vaulted arch) in Japan.
A UNESCO World Heritage Gusuku on a hilltop peninsula in Uruma, Okinawa, ruled by the powerful and beloved lord Amawari. The five-tiered stone enclosures descend dramatically from the hilltop, and archaeological finds indicate active trade with Southeast Asia and China.
A UNESCO World Heritage Gusuku in Nakagusuku, Okinawa, built by the castle architect Gosamaru and later expanded by Amawari. Its six enclosures feature remarkably sophisticated masonry using different stone-stacking techniques, considered the finest Gusuku architecture in Okinawa.
UNESCO World Heritage and the royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Shuri Castle in Naha has been rebuilt after destruction in WWII and the 2019 fire. The vivid red-lacquered main hall blends Japanese, Chinese, and Southeast Asian influences in a unique architectural style symbolizing Okinawa's heritage.