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If you want to see castles in Hyogo! 7 historical and recommended castles

If you want to see castles in Hyogo! 7 historical and recommended castles

2021-08-20 Management office

Hyogo is famous for its many castles, and this article will introduce castles and castle ruins that still remain today. Due to the "One Country, One Castle" law, there are many castle ruins in Hyogo, but castles that still remain are recommended as tourist attractions.
Even if you are not interested in castles at all, there are a variety of castles and castle ruins where you can enjoy learning about castles and castles with spectacular views of the sea of clouds that you should see at least once, so if you are ever in the area, be sure to take a tour.
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Himeji Castle



Himeji Castle is a national treasure and, along with Horyuji Temple in Nara, is a World Heritage Site. It is also called Shirasagi (White Egret) Castle because it looks like a white egret spreading its wings.
The castle tower, built in 1609, still stands on top of Himeji Castle in its beautiful form. The white walls, which look beautiful against the blue sky, are a popular sightseeing spot any time of the day, morning, noon, or night.

Located overlooking the city



As you can see in the photo, it is located at the end of the street and on a hill, so it is clearly visible even when driving by. The castle is illuminated for a limited period of time, which makes the castle even more impressive.
The castle tower commands a panoramic view of the city and is a powerful reminder of the warring states period. The castle is also a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing, making it a perfect place for strolling both inside and outside the castle.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Himeji Castle
Address: 68 Honmachi, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, 670-0012
Phone number: 079-285-1146
Hours of operation: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Price: 1,000yen for adults / 300yen for elementary school students and above
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: Himeji Castle, a national treasure and World Heritage Site, is a famous sightseeing spot in Himeji and is also famous for its cherry blossoms.
URL:https://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/castle/index.html

Akashi City



Located in Akashi Park, Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture, the castle ruins are magnificent with two existing turrets (Kun-yagura and Tatsumi-yagura) at the edge of the white walls. Located on top of a stone masonry keep, they can be seen from a distance. Also known as Kiharu Castle or Kinko Castle, it is a favorite tourist attraction for both tourists and locals alike. The park is open to all visitors, but both turrets are open to the public only on specific days.

One of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan



It is located on the north side of JR Akashi Station and is easily visible from the station platform.
Currently, it is maintained as a park, and during the cherry blossom season, many cherry trees are in full bloom, and it has been selected as one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan. The park also attracts many tourists during the season of autumn leaves.
There is also an observation deck, and the observation deck has a ramp so anyone can visit freely.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Akashi Castle
Address: 1-27 Akashi Koen, Akashi-shi, Hyogo 673-0847, Japan
Phone number: 078-912-7600
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space & Facilities: Located just outside JR Akashi Station, you can see the ruins of Akashi Castle and the existing turrets.
URL:https://www.yokoso-akashi.jp/facility/2502

Takeda Castle Ruins



The ruins of the castle were built on the summit of Mt. Recently, this place has been attracting many tourists at once because of the wonderful sea of clouds that can be seen from this location.
Fog surrounds the ruins of Takeda Castle, making it look like it is above the clouds when viewed from above, and from below it looks like the ruins of Takeda Castle are floating in the clouds, making it a popular sightseeing spot that looks fantastic like a castle in the sky.
The ruins of the castle are also popular because they look like Machu Picchu, so you can see the same view any time you visit the castle ruins.

This is what it looks like from the back



Parking is available close by, and it is about a 40 minute walk to get there by public transportation. Either way, it is recommended to wear comfortable walking sneakers.
Surrounded by a sea of clouds, the ruins of Takeda Castle are visible only on clear autumn mornings. You can't see it any time of the year, but it is also romantic and beautiful in its limited availability.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Takeda Castle Ruins
Address: Takeda, Wadayama-cho, Asago-shi, Hyogo 669-5254
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space & Facilities: At the summit of 353.7-meter-high Kojyozan (Mt. Kojyozan), you can see the moment when a sea of clouds surrounds the ruins of Takeda Castle.
URL:http://www.city.asago.hyogo.jp/takeda/

Ako Castle



Ako Castle, known for the Chushingura story, was the residence of Naganori Asano, the feudal lord of Ako.
It took 13 years to build and is a magnificent castle. It is designated as a national historic site, and the Honmaru Garden and Ninomaru Garden are also designated as places of scenic beauty, so it is recommended to visit them together.

Castle surrounded by water



It is designed to be entered and exited by boat and has a boat entrance.
Surrounded by mountains and bordered by the Chikusa River and the Seto Inland Sea, the castle has an unusual structure. Today, the layout of the palace has been restored and can be seen in person, making it a popular spot for tourists every day. The castle tower commands a panoramic view of the city of Ako, so be sure to climb up there when sightseeing.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Akoh Castle
Address: 1424-1 Kamikariya, Ako, Hyogo 678-0235
Hours of operation: 9:00 - 16:30
I'll pay: 330yen for adults/220yen for junior high school students/110yen for elementary school students/47yen for children and younger
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: The castle was the residence of Naganori Asano, lord of the Ako domain, and is surrounded by water and accessed by boat.
URL:http://www.ako-hyg.ed.jp/bunkazai/akojo/


Sumoto City



Sumoto Castle, located on Mt. Mikumayama on Awaji Island, is an important castle that served as the base of Awaji Province governance. Because it is located on Mt. Mikumayama, it is also known as Mikumajo. The castle has a climbing stone wall, which is rare in Japan, and the view from the castle overlooks Osaka Bay and the Kitan Straits. All that remains of the castle are its guard tower and stonewalls. It is a national historic site and a popular tourist spot.
Today, the castle ruins are home to the Municipal Awaji Culture and Archives Museum, where you can view detailed documents and other information.

To a tunnel that you can feel close to you!



The keep is a mock-up, but it was still built in 1927.
Climbing stone walls remain everywhere, but it is best to wear sneakers because of the poor footing. Also, be careful as there are numerous places where they are crumbling.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Sumoto Castle
Address: 1272 Shojidani, Sumoto, Hyogo 656-0023
Phone number: 0799-24-7613
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: Located on Mt. Mikumayama on Awaji Island, the castle ruins still retain climbing stonewalls, which is rare in Japan.
URL:https://www.awajishima-kanko.jp/manual/detail.html?bid=242

Shinoyama Castle



Surrounded by 17-meter-high stone walls, the castle ruins are located on a small hill in Tamba Sasayama City.
Designated as a national historic site, it is a very scenic and popular tourist spot combined with a peaceful landscape. 2009 marked the opening of the 400th anniversary of Tanba Sasayama Castle, making it a historic castle site. 2000 saw the restoration of the Daishoin (main building), and 1000 cherry trees have been planted along the outer moat.

Castle ruins that blend in beautifully



The castle ruins are also the starting and finishing points of the Sasayama ABC Marathon and are beloved by the locals. The castle ruins are especially popular among locals because they blend in well with the surrounding scenery. The castle is tucked away in the middle of a peaceful landscape, making it a place for relaxation.
When the cherry blossoms are in bloom, you can enjoy viewing the magnificent cherry blossoms. In winter, snow covers the castle, giving you a different impression of Sasayama Castle.

"Facility Information "
Name: Sasayama Castle
Address: 2 Kitashinmachi, Tamba-Sasayama, Hyogo 669-2332
Phone number: 079-552-1111
Hours: May-October 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. November-April until 7 p.m.
Closed: Mondays in Daishoin
Budget: Dai-shoin Adults 400 yen / High school and university students 200 yen / Elementary and junior high school students 100 yen
No Smoking and Smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: Surrounded by 17-meter-high stone walls, the castle ruins are located on a small hillside in Sasayama, Tanba. The beautiful castle ruins scenery blends in with the surrounding landscape.
URL:https://www.city.sasayama.hyogo.jp/rekishi/bunkazai/shi01.htmlhttps://www.city.sasayama.hyogo.jp/rekishi/bunkazai/shi01.html

Amagasaki Castle



Although the site where Amagasaki Castle stands is now home to the city's public and educational facilities, and not much remains of the castle, Amagasaki Castle is still active in the hearts and minds of its citizens. Although only a part of the stone wall remains, visitors can learn about the history of Amagasaki Castle through a large-screen VR theater, try their hand at gun and sword fighting, dress up as a princess or a ninja, and take pictures.
The Amagasaki Castle Ruins Park is also used for events and other activities.

So much love that it has become a manhole.



In fact, the Amagasaki Castle tower was built with 1.2 billion yen by Mr. Akihiro Abo, the founder of the former Midori Denka, an electronics retailer, and donated it to Amagasaki City. The present Amagasaki Castle was built with the help of 200 million yen donated by people who love Amagasaki.
Inside the castle, there is a souvenir shop and a museum where you can learn about the history of Amagasaki, so please enjoy your visit to Amagasaki Castle.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Amagasaki Castle
Address: 27 Kitajoinai, Amagasaki, Hyogo 660-0826, Japan
Phone number: 06-6480-5646
Hours of operation: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed: Monday
Budget: Adults 500 yen/Junior high school and high school students 250 yen, ground floor free
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space & Facilities: Visitors can enjoy learning about the history of Amagasaki with the latest technology at the Amagasaki Castle, which was revived in the Heisei era.
URL:https://amagasaki-castle.jp/

summary

Hyogo is a large area, so we recommend that you visit a castle that is easy to get to by comparing it with the tourist attractions you wish to visit. However, if you want to capture a moment of spectacular scenery with your camera, like at Takeda Castle Ruins, it is recommended to stay overnight nearby and go early in the morning. Even so, it is said to be difficult to capture the scenery floating in a sea of clouds. Be lucky if you are able to capture it, and be prepared for the possibility that you may not be able to.
You can sightsee the ruins of your favorite castles, from famous Hyogo castles to revived castles.

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