Himeji Castle
The most famous and best-preserved castle in Japan is Himeji Castle, also known as the "White Heron Castle," as it calls to mind the image of a crane gracefully spreading its wings. The current castle was completed around 1610 after an estimated 50 million man-days of work. It was the first Japanese site to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage list and has undergone two major renovations, most recently in 2015.
Matsue Castle
This castle retains architectural features from the brief but significant Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1600), such as the half-hipped gables. It has a 24-meter deep well in the basement, built as a defense against sieges. Extensive repairs took place in 1950.
Matsumoto Castle
This is a solidly defensive fortress, typical of castles built during the Warring States period. It is known as the "Black Castle" due to the lacquered weatherboarding attached to the lower portions of its walls. The six-story castle building sits on the Matsumoto plain with the majestic Japanese Alps as a background.
Hikone Castle
This castle is styled in the manner of Zen Buddhist structures and bears resemblance to some of the grander examples of residential buildings of the early 1600s, including the Golden and SIlver Pavilions at Kyoto.
Inuyama Castle
Inuyama Castle was built in 1537 and is situated on a hill overlooking the Kiso River, providing it with panoramic views and strong defensive capabilities. It is home to the oldest original castle tower in Japan, dating to 1580. The castle remained in private hands until 2004, when ownership passed to a public interest foundation.