What is Japan's Top 100 Castles??

This blog records trip to Japan's Top 100 Castles.
Then, what is Japan's Top 100 Castles??
The HP of the Japan Castle Association(日本城郭協会) says follows:

The selection of "Top 100 castles in Japan" was planned with the support of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Agency for Cultural Affairs as a project to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Japan Castle Association becoming a foundation, and the following 100 castles were planned in February 2006.
The castle and castle ruins, which are the representative cultural heritage of Japan and the historical symbol of the region, were set with the intention of making many people aware of them, raising their interest, and eventually leading to the promotion of regional culture. 「日本１００名城」の選定は日本城郭協会が財団法人となって４０周年を記念する事業として、文部科学省・文化庁の後援を得て企画され、以下の１００城が平成１８年２月に発表されました。
日本を代表する文化遺産であり地域の歴史的シンボルでもある城郭、城跡を、多くの人に知ってもらい、関心を高め、ひいては地域文化の振興につながることを念じて設定されました。 Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Japan Castle Association HP (公益財団法人　日本城郭協会　HP)

Anyway, let's start our tirp to castles that represents Japan!

No.07 Tagajo Castle (多賀城) : 2018/11/17

No.07　Tagajo Castle (多賀城)　（Tagajo city, Miyagi prefecture）

Tagajo is located in Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture, and is a key castle of the Ritsuryo nation (that means "ancient law-abiding nation") built in the Tohoku region.
Though the castle that we imagined did not remain, there were traces of the castle.

No.12 Aizuwakamatsujo Caslte (会津若松城) : 2018/11/23

 No.12　Aizuwakamatsujo Castle (会津若松城)　（Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture）

Aizuwakamatsu Castle is located in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture.

It seems that Mr. Gamo Ujisato made a major remodeling of what used to be Kurokawa Castle.

It featured a castle tower and a running nagaya.

Start from Nishidemaru parking lot.

No.73 Hiroshima Castle (広島城) : 2019/05/12

No.73 Hiroshima Castle (広島城) (Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture)

You can find my castle travel reports in the Record of Trip to Japan’s Top 100 Castles index.

The photographs in this article were taken during my visit on May 12, 2019. Hiroshima Castle’s main keep closed on March 22, 2026, and its interior is no longer open to visitors. You can still view the exterior, visit the reconstructed Ninomaru buildings and castle park, and collect the Japan’s Top 100 Castles stamp.

The day I visited Hiroshima Castle

On May 12, 2019, I visited Hiroshima Castle, No.73 on Japan’s Top 100 Castles list. Below, I separate photographs from that visit from visitor information for 2026.

　

The moat, stone walls, and Ninomaru

After viewing the keep across the moat, I headed to the Ninomaru enclosure. The reconstructed Omotegomon Gate, Hira-yagura, Tamon-yagura, and Taiko-yagura buildings remain open to visitors.

Historical remains within the castle grounds

Besides the keep, the grounds contain historical remains such as the site of the Hiroshima Imperial Headquarters.

Inside the keep in 2019

The following photographs record the interior in 2019, when it was open to visitors. The interior is now closed.

Notes for visiting today

• The keep can be viewed from the outside only.
• Check the official website on the day of your visit for Ninomaru opening information.
• There is no dedicated parking lot.

Before visiting, check the official Hiroshima Castle website.

Back to the Record of Trip to Japan’s Top 100 Castles

No.13 Shirakawa Komine Castle (白河小峰城) : 2018/12/10

No.13 Shirakawa Komine Castle (白河小峰城) (Shirakawa City, Fukushima Prefecture)

Shirakawa Komine Castle is located in Shirakawa City, Fukushima Prefecture.
The stone walls built by Niwa Nagashige in the Edo period are magnificent.

 I began my walk beside the Shirakawa Shukoen museum.

With the stone walls on my left,

 I headed toward the tower with the park on my right.

 The tower came into view.

 The sign reads “Komine Castle.”
Perhaps local people simply call it Komine Castle rather than Shirakawa Komine Castle?

 What magnificent stone walls!

 The site of the main enclosure.
It feels a little lonely with none of the buildings remaining here.

 And here is the tower!
To be precise, it is a three-story turret that served in place of a main keep.

 The Maegomon Gate is impressive too.

 The view looking down from the three-story turret.

 It appeared that damage from the earthquake had been repaired.

 And here is the famous Otome-zakura cherry tree.

 I made sure to collect the castle stamp!

 ＜Digression＞
 In Shiropro:RE, Shirakawa Komine Castle’s special ability is named “Otome-zakura.”
After her Kai-I upgrade, it becomes the stronger “Second-Generation Otome-zakura.”

Until the stamp rally is complete:
97 out of 100 castles remaining.

Back to the Record of Trip to Japan’s Top 100 Castles

No.11 Nihonmatsu Castle (二本松城) : 2018/12/20

No.11 Nihonmatsu Castle (二本松城) (Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture)

Nihonmatsu Castle is located in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture.
Nihonmatsu is famous for its chrysanthemum dolls.

This is the monument to the Nihonmatsu Youth Corps.
It was right in front of me when I arrived.

I passed through Minowa Gate and entered the grounds.

A chrysanthemum doll festival seemed to be taking place: there were chrysanthemums everywhere.

I did not have enough time to reach the main enclosure, but I made sure to collect the castle stamp.

Until the stamp rally is complete:
96 out of 100 castles remaining.

Back to the Record of Trip to Japan’s Top 100 Castles

No.08 Sendai Castle (仙台城) : 2018/12/20

No.08 Sendai Castle (仙台城) (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

Sendai Castle is located in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture.
It is famous for its connection with Date Masamune.

I started at the museum.
The facility also had a shop, and the zunda shake, made with sweetened green soybeans, was delicious.

 The castle buildings no longer stood; what remained was the Sendai Castle site.

 I could walk around the grounds and see in detail where the buildings once stood.

A sign explaining the history of Sendai Castle.
The advertisement for Kanezaki’s sasa-kamaboko, a local fish-cake specialty, adds a nice local touch!

There was a panoramic view of Sendai.
I arrived at just the right time to enjoy the evening light.

And here is the famous statue of Date Masamune.
It is huge!

I collected the castle stamp here as well, bringing my visit to an end.

＜Digression＞
In Shiropro:RE, Sendai Castle’s special ability is “One-Eyed Dragon,” perhaps a reference to Date Masamune.
Her strategy is named after Sendai’s famous Tanabata Festival.

Until the stamp rally is complete:
95 out of 100 castles remaining.

Back to the Record of Trip to Japan’s Top 100 Castles