Japanese castles near Tokyo
Activity > Tokyo > History
Our Tokyo castle guide will show you all the castles "In" and "Near" Tokyo. There is only one castle "In" Tokyo, that being the Imperial Palace, while the rest are an hour or two train ride out of Tokyo and you can get to them, visit and back to Tokyo on a day trip. This Tokyo Castle list gives you five selected Japanese castles you can visit in and near Tokyo. Unfortunately there are no "Original Construction" castles near Tokyo (as they were all destroyed) but there are some nicely reconstructed castles and the "feeling" of the original castle is definitely there. Tokyo tourists have plenty to do in Tokyo itself with all the shopping, nightlife, restaurants, temples and more but ... wouldn't you like to see a Japanese Castle!? I mean... come on! Castles are so cool! All of these castles can be reached under two hours without having to ride the Bullet Train (Shinkansen) and spending a lot of money. Castle entrance fees are very low (usually around 500 yen or $5 US dollars) and they offer lots of photographic opportunities and imagination fun! Take you video camera and shoot a Ninja / Samurai scene, get into it! Be sure to visit each castle's detail page before visiting where you can check "closing days" (you don't want to ride out for two hours, show up and the castle is closed). On each castle's detail page you can also find a link to the "Official Site" to confirm information further.
Odawara Castle
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed: [ See Website ]
Admission: Free - 700 yen
Approx. time from Tokyo Station: 1.5 - 2 hours
Map: [ Google Map ]
Number One! Odawara Castle. Not only is it easy to get to and totally COOL... it played a pivotal role in the history of Japan. If your visiting Tokyo and you really want something interesting to do, jump on the train for an hour and a half for 1,500 yen and head down to Odawara! The castle is a close and easy walk from the station making it a prime destination. On the other hand... it can get quite busy and full of tourists so if possible, try to visit the castle on a weekday.
The original castle (or rather stronghold) was built in the early 1400s. The castle changed hands many times among many different clans with upgrades and more upgrades that turned Odawara castle into a formidable defense. Its final great battle was the "Siege of Odawara" in which Hideyoshi brought all his generals from around the country with about 200,000 troops to attack the Hojo Clan whom held the castle at the time. Hojo eventually conceded his defeat and turned the castle over to Hideyoshi.
Definitely plan at least half a day to visit this castle and spend lots of time wondering around its grounds. You will find everything you expect at a Japanese Castle... moat, walls, main keep, towers, etc. Some people have even stated, "visiting the castle was worth the visit to Japan."! The museum is filled with explanations of the genealogy of the latter Hojo Clan, as well as a general collection of weaponry, armor and the like. The view from the top of the keep out across the ocean, especially towards the end of the afternoon, had a certain sort of charm.
Imperial Palace
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed: Generally open year round
Admission: Free
Approx. time from Tokyo Station: 15 min. (walk)
Map: [ Google Map ]
Yes, there actually was a Tokyo Castle (really called "Edo Castle" 江戸城 or Chiyoda Castle 千代田城 ) at one time. However, in 1873 a fire destroyed the original main keep and the the site became the Imperial Palace which was built in 1888. However, many of the original structures such as gates, towers and walls remain. The area is huge... and it is possible to see everything in one day but you would have to start early morning and walk fast! Not to mention your legs will be falling off. The best thing about Edo Castle (or rather the Imperial Palace) is that it is right in Tokyo... no extra long train rides, just get off at a near bye station and start your adventure. Even though there is no "Main Keep" to get a picture of, there are plenty of beautiful shots to be had. However... and I'm just expressing my opinion here... some family members that have visited the castle did complain and say, "there is no castle"... and, this is true so, please be aware of that. If you want to see a "real" Japanese Castle keep (reconstruction) please consider one of the other castles on this list.
Chiba Castle
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed: Generally open year round
Admission: Free
Approx. time from Tokyo Station: 1 hour
Map: [ Google Map ]
Chiba (in Japanese: ちば | 千葉 ) is a prefecture in Japan that is "to the right" of Tokyo (when looking down at a map), its the large peninsula to the right of Tokyo bay. During Japan's Medieval Times Chiba Prefecture was filled with castles as it was a major battleground for completing clans, most notably the Satomi Clan. Unfortunately all the original castles were destroyed and only a few reconstructions remain. Chiba Castle (actually called Outaki Castle) was originally the home-base for the Daimyo (in western words: king) of the Satomi Clan. The castle was originally built in the early 1500s to guard against attacks from clans from the North and burnt down in 1842.
The current Chiba Castle is a reconstruction "near" where the original castle stood. The reconstructed keep at Outaki Castle was built in 1975 out of concrete. No detailed plans or depictions remain of what the original keep looked like, but a rough sketch from 1832 was found and this was used as a basis for the reconstruction. The inside of the castle is now a museum which contains some historical artifacts including a small collection of armor and swords. Outaki's town is also well preserved, including a merchant’s residence from 1841 and an old sake brewery. There is one original structure remaining at Ouaki Castle and that is the Yakuimon (gate), dating to 1844, at the foot of the mountain.
Oshi Castle
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Closed: Generally open year round
Admission: Free - 300 yen
Approx. time from Tokyo Station: 1.5 - 2 hours
Map: [ Google Map ]
Oshi Castle in Saitama Prefecture takes my #2 spot. Even though it is a "reconstruction" and not an "original" castle, it really does "feel" like a cool Japanese Castle! The first and original castle was built in the late 1400s by the Narita Clan (yes, the same name as Narita Airport) which were vassals of the Uesugi Clan, allies of the Hojo Clan. The castle was built in a very strategic location in an area of marshes and swamplands which made it hard to attack. The castle is famous for the "Siege of Oshi" in which 619 Samurai and 2000 local conscripts held off 23,000 of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's troops under the command of Ishida Mitsunari. When the Hojo Clan fell (at the Siege of Odawara), Oshi Castle surrendered and ended the siege.
The castle really is something you might see in a movie. It has a moat, a cool gate and a really well done reconstructed castle. The interior is of course a museum with relics and history about the castle. Is is slightly... a pain to get there but I suggest taking a train from Tokyo Station to JR Fukiage Station (its a direct shot with no changes) and then a bus from the station (or a taxi... probably around 2000 yen, $20 US). At the station either ask the Station Attendants or just start asking people and they will help you out:) "Oshijyou Bus wa doko desuka?". One of the best things about this castle is there are very few tourists (especially foreigners). If you go on a weekday, you may be the only people there... which gives you a chance to really explore quietly and get some nice photographs.
Sekiyado Castle
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Closed: Generally open year round
Admission: Free
Approx. time from Tokyo Station: 1.5 - 2 hours
Map: [ Google Map ]
Sekiyado Castle is famous to Japanese Castle fans for being a great "Photo Shoot". On a clear day it is possible to get a shot of Sekiyado Castle with Mt. Fuji in the background. On some weekends you can see many photographers with super-long zoom lenses lined up at key spots waiting for the right moment to get the right shot. This link: Sekiyado Castle Photographs, is a google search in Japanese I made that shows some great photographs of Sekiyado Castle by mostly Japanese photographers.
Sekiyado Castle is the North Western part of Chiba Prefecture. There were small "fortifications" before the actual castle was built but the main castle was built in 1590 and then considerably fortified in 1671. The castle held a very strategic location being between 2 rivers and was able to protect against naughty clans to the north that considered invading Edo. Like most castles, Sekiyado Castle was dismantled in 1874 after the Meiji Restoration. The current castle is a "close" reconstruction of the original and acts as a museum. The museum is interactive and designed to appeal to all ages – they really make the most of explaining the history of this particular castle.
