Original Keep Castle

Home to one of Japan's 12 surviving original castle keeps, Hirosaki Castle is set in a vast park famous for 2,600 cherry trees. The three-story keep dates to 1611 and is a National Important Cultural Property.

The oldest surviving castle tower in Japan, built in 1576 by Shibata Katsutoyo in Sakai, Fukui. This squat, thatched-roof keep's ancient architecture is utterly unique, and its steep stone stairs are famously treacherous.

The highest surviving original castle keep in Japan at 430m elevation on Mt. Gagyu in Takahashi, Okayama. The small but atmospheric two-story keep dates to 1683 and is often wreathed in morning cloud, creating one of Japan's most hauntingly beautiful castle views.

Home to one of Japan's original 12 surviving castle towers, Marugame Castle features the most stunning stone walls in Japan. The six-tiered 'stone wall staircase' climbing 60 meters above the city is a National Treasure. The small three-story keep offers views across the Seto Inland Sea.

One of Japan's 12 castles with original keeps, Matsuyama Castle sits atop Mt. Katsu at 132m in the center of Matsuyama City. The three-tiered complex is one of Japan's largest original castle compounds, accessible by ropeway and offering panoramic city views.

A compact three-story original keep perched on a hill above Uwajima harbor, designed by Date Hidemune. Its unusual fan-shaped stone base and gracefully sloped walls are considered among the most elegant castle architecture in Japan. The keep is an Important Cultural Property.

The only castle in Japan where both the main keep and its palace (otemon) survive in original form, Kochi Castle stands atop a hill at the center of Kochi City. The 15-story stone wall staircase leading to the keep is remarkable, as is the view of the Pacific coast.