List of foreign-style castles in Japan

This is a list of foreign-style castles in Japan. In Japan, the word '城(shiro) has broader meanings than western world, so this list includes the buildings near to fortresses.

Korean style castles

class="wikitable sortable"
Castle{{Sfn\|向井一雄\|2017年\|p=211}} ! Image ! Location ! data-sort-type=number \| First Built ! Type ! Status
Mizuki Castle \|120px \|Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture \|663 \|Korean style defensive wall? \|Ruins
Nagato Castle \| \|Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture? \|665 \|Korean-style fortress \|unknown location
Ōno Castle \|120px \|Ōnojō, Fukuoka Prefecture \|665 \|Korean-style fortress \|Ruins
Kii Castle \|120px \|Kiyama, Saga Prefecture \|665 \|Korean-style fortress \|Ruins
Takayasu Castle \|120px \|Heguri, Nara Prefecture \|667 \|Korean-style fortress \|Ruins
Yashima Castle \|120px \|Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture \|667 \|Korean-style fortress \|Ruins,restored stonewall
Kaneda Castle \|120px \|Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture \|667 \|Korean-style fortress \|Ruins
Kikuchi Castle \|120px \|Yamaga, Kumamoto Prefecture \|698 \|Korean-style fortress \|Partially reconstructed
Mino Castle \| \|unknown \|699 \|Korean-style fortress \|unknown location
Inazumi castle \| \|unknown \|699 \|Korean-style fortress \|unknown location
Mio Castle \| \|Takashima, Shiga Prefecture? \|672 \|Korean-style fortress? \|unknown location
Ibara Castle \| \|Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture? \|719 \|Korean-style fortress \|unknown location
Tsune Castle \| \|Fuchū, Hiroshima Prefecture? \|719 \|Korean-style fortress \|unknown location
Kiyama Castle \|120px \|Tatsuno, Hyogo, Hyogo Prefecture \|unknown \|Kōgoishi \|Ruins
Ōmeguri Komeguri-san Castle \|120px \|Okayama, Okayama Prefecture \|unknown \|Kōgoishi \|Ruins
Ki Castle \|120px \|Sōja, Okayama Prefecture \|unknown \|Kōgoishi \|Partially reconstructed
Iwaki-san Castle \|120px \|Hikari, Yamaguchi prefecture \|unknown \|Kōgoishi \|Ruins
Kiyama Castle \|120px \|Sakaide, Kagawa prefecture \|unknown \|Kōgoishi \|Ruins
Einōsan Castle \|120px \|Saijō, Ehime Prefecture \|unknown \|Kōgoishi \|Ruins
Kakenouma Castle \|120px \|Iizuka, Fukuoka Prefecture \|unknown \|Kōgoishi \|Ruins
Raizan Castle \|120px \|Itoshima, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture \|unknown \|Kōgoishi \|Ruins
Hagi Castle \| \|Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture \|unknown \|Kōgoishi \|Ruins
Ashiki-san Castle \| \|Chikushino, Fukuoka Prefecture \|unknown \|Kōgoishi \|Ruins
Kōra-san Castle \|120px \|Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture \|unknown \|Kōgoishi \|Ruins
Zoyama Castle \|120px \|Miyama, Fukuoka Prefecture \|unknown \|Kōgoishi \|Ruins
Goshogatani castle \| \|Miyako, Fukuoka Prefecture \|unknown \|Kōgoishi \|Ruins
Tōbaru-san Castle \| \|Kōge, Fukuoka prefecture \|unknown \|Kōgoishi \|Ruins
Obukuma-yama Castle \| \|Saga, Saga prefecture \|unknown \|Kōgoishi \|Ruins
Otsubo-yama Castle \|120px \|Takeo, Saga, Saga Prefecture \|unknown \|Kōgoishi \|Ruins

class="wikitable sortable"

Castle{{Sfn|向井一雄|2017年|p=211}}

! Image

! Location

! data-sort-type=number | First Built

! Type

! Status

Mizuki Castle

|120px

|Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture

|663

|Korean style defensive wall?

|Ruins

Nagato Castle

|Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture?

|665

|Korean-style fortress

|unknown location

Ōno Castle

|120px

|Ōnojō, Fukuoka Prefecture

|665

|Korean-style fortress

|Ruins

Kii Castle

|120px

|Kiyama, Saga Prefecture

|665

|Korean-style fortress

|Ruins

Takayasu Castle

|120px

|Heguri, Nara Prefecture

|667

|Korean-style fortress

|Ruins

Yashima Castle

|120px

|Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture

|667

|Korean-style fortress

|Ruins,restored stonewall

Kaneda Castle

|120px

|Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture

|667

|Korean-style fortress

|Ruins

Kikuchi Castle

|120px

|Yamaga, Kumamoto Prefecture

|698

|Korean-style fortress

|Partially reconstructed

Mino Castle

|unknown

|699

|Korean-style fortress

|unknown location

Inazumi castle

|unknown

|699

|Korean-style fortress

|unknown location

Mio Castle

|Takashima, Shiga Prefecture?

|672

|Korean-style fortress?

|unknown location

Ibara Castle

|Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture?

|719

|Korean-style fortress

|unknown location

Tsune Castle

|Fuchū, Hiroshima Prefecture?

|719

|Korean-style fortress

|unknown location

Kiyama Castle

|120px

|Tatsuno, Hyogo, Hyogo Prefecture

|unknown

|Kōgoishi

|Ruins

Ōmeguri Komeguri-san Castle

|120px

|Okayama, Okayama Prefecture

|unknown

|Kōgoishi

|Ruins

Ki Castle

|120px

|Sōja, Okayama Prefecture

|unknown

|Kōgoishi

|Partially reconstructed

Iwaki-san Castle

|120px

|Hikari, Yamaguchi prefecture

|unknown

|Kōgoishi

|Ruins

Kiyama Castle

|120px

|Sakaide, Kagawa prefecture

|unknown

|Kōgoishi

|Ruins

Einōsan Castle

|120px

|Saijō, Ehime Prefecture

|unknown

|Kōgoishi

|Ruins

Kakenouma Castle

|120px

|Iizuka, Fukuoka Prefecture

|unknown

|Kōgoishi

|Ruins

Raizan Castle

|120px

|Itoshima, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture

|unknown

|Kōgoishi

|Ruins

Hagi Castle

|Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture

|unknown

|Kōgoishi

|Ruins

Ashiki-san Castle

|Chikushino, Fukuoka Prefecture

|unknown

|Kōgoishi

|Ruins

Kōra-san Castle

|120px

|Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture

|unknown

|Kōgoishi

|Ruins

Zoyama Castle

|120px

|Miyama, Fukuoka Prefecture

|unknown

|Kōgoishi

|Ruins

Goshogatani castle

|Miyako, Fukuoka Prefecture

|unknown

|Kōgoishi

|Ruins

Tōbaru-san Castle

|Kōge, Fukuoka prefecture

|unknown

|Kōgoishi

|Ruins

Obukuma-yama Castle

|Saga, Saga prefecture

|unknown

|Kōgoishi

|Ruins

Otsubo-yama Castle

|120px

|Takeo, Saga, Saga Prefecture

|unknown

|Kōgoishi

|Ruins

Chinese style castle

class="wikitable sortable"
Castle ! Image ! Location ! data-sort-type=number \| First Built ! Type ! Status
Ito Castle \|120px \|Itoshima, Fukuoka Prefecture \|756-768{{cite book \|script-title=ja:日本歴史地名大系 41 福岡県の地名 \|section=怡土城跡 \|author1=有馬学 \|author2=川添昭二 \|publisher=平凡社 \|date=October 2004 \|isbn=978-4582490411 \|language=ja}}{{Sfn\|国指定史跡怡土城跡\|2006\|pp=6-12}} \|Chinese style fortress[http://www.city.itoshima.lg.jp/s033/010/020/010/110/050/itojou-ato.html 怡土城跡]（糸島市ホームページ）。 \|Ruins

class="wikitable sortable"

Castle

! Image

! Location

! data-sort-type=number | First Built

! Type

! Status

Ito Castle

|120px

|Itoshima, Fukuoka Prefecture

|756-768{{cite book |script-title=ja:日本歴史地名大系 41 福岡県の地名 |section=怡土城跡 |author1=有馬学 |author2=川添昭二 |publisher=平凡社 |date=October 2004 |isbn=978-4582490411 |language=ja}}{{Sfn|国指定史跡怡土城跡|2006|pp=6-12}}

|Chinese style fortress[http://www.city.itoshima.lg.jp/s033/010/020/010/110/050/itojou-ato.html 怡土城跡]（糸島市ホームページ）。

|Ruins

Portuguese style castle

class="wikitable sortable"
Castle ! Location ! data-sort-type=number \| First Built ! Type ! Status
Fortified City of Nagasaki \|Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture \|1580? \|Citadel \|Possible ruins remains[https://this.kiji.is/469696646570296417 起源は16世紀後半の城塞？　長崎学研究所・赤瀬所長　県庁跡地一帯の石垣研究] 長崎新聞、2019-02-17

class="wikitable sortable"

Castle

! Location

! data-sort-type=number | First Built

! Type

! Status

Fortified City of Nagasaki

|Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture

|1580?

|Citadel

|Possible ruins remains[https://this.kiji.is/469696646570296417 起源は16世紀後半の城塞？　長崎学研究所・赤瀬所長　県庁跡地一帯の石垣研究] 長崎新聞、2019-02-17

French style castles

= French style bastion fort =

class="wikitable sortable"
Castle ! Image ! Location ! data-sort-type=number \| First Built ! Type ! Status
Goryōkaku \|120px \|Hakodate, Hokkaido \|1866 \|Vauban style star fort{{cite web\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D40lDwAAQBAJ\|title=城巡りが１０倍楽しくなるおもしろ探訪日本の城 pp.69-70\|date = June 2015\|publisher=扶桑社\|access-date=2019-10-13}} \|Reconstructed
Tatsuoka Castle \|120px \|Saku, Nagano Prefecture \|1864-1867 \|Vauban style star fort[https://serai.jp/tour/215453 もう一つの五稜郭！長野県の『龍岡城五稜郭』を訪ねてみた] サライ、2017-08-08 \|One Building remains
Hekirichi Bastion Fort of Matsumae Clan \|120x120px \|Hokuto, Hokkaido \|1855 \|A defensive structure combining tactical theory adapted to the peak of artillery warfare with the star-shaped bastion style, developed 150 years after Vauban’s geometric refinements. The foundational theory is a Dutch translation of teachings from a professor at the Saint-Cyr Military Academy.{{Cite book \|last=Savart \|first=Nicolas-Pierre-Antoine \|url=https://www.google.co.jp/books/edition/Cours_%C3%A9l%C3%A9mentaire_de_fortification_%C3%A0/UKc6AAAAcAAJ?hl=ja&gbpv=0 \|title=Cours élémentaire de fortification à l'usage des élèves de l'École spéciale militaire \|date=1825 \|publisher=Anselin et Pochard \|language=fr}}{{Cite book \|last=Savart \|first=Nicolas \|url=https://www.google.co.jp/books/edition/Beginselen_der_versterkingskunst/LfkF2TcDH5kC?hl=ja&gbpv=0 \|title=Beginselen der versterkingskunst \|date=1827 \|publisher=Gebroeders Van Cleef \|language=nl}}{{Cite journal \|last=Taichiro \|first=Tokita \|date=31 Jan 2024 \|title=Research of the constracton of 19th century's Western military defence system at Matsumae-han-Heirichi-Jinya Bastion Fort as "First bastion fort in Japan" , For understanding "bastion forts" in Japan \|url=https://sitereports.nabunken.go.jp/ja/search/item/132877 \|journal=Research bulletin of Hokuto City Hometown Museum \|issue=1 \|pages=1–59 \|via=Hokuto City Hometown Museum}} \|The outer fortifications and battery structures (earthworks)remain well
Shiryōkaku \|120px \|Hakodate, Hokkaido \|1869 \|French style bastion fort[https://www.visit-hokkaido.jp/korezo/detail/18 五稜郭だけじゃない！四稜郭もあれば三稜郭や七稜郭もあった?!] Good day 北海道,2019年10月14日アクセス \|Ruins
Togeshita daiba \| \|Nanae, Hokkaido \|? \|Seven horned Star-shaped redoubt, however, none of its extremities feature bastions. \|Ruins

class="wikitable sortable"

Castle

! Image

! Location

! data-sort-type=number | First Built

! Type

! Status

|Vauban style star fort{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D40lDwAAQBAJ|title=城巡りが１０倍楽しくなるおもしろ探訪日本の城 pp.69-70|date = June 2015|publisher=扶桑社|access-date=2019-10-13}}

|Reconstructed

Tatsuoka Castle

|120px

|Saku, Nagano Prefecture

|1864-1867

|Vauban style star fort[https://serai.jp/tour/215453 もう一つの五稜郭！長野県の『龍岡城五稜郭』を訪ねてみた] サライ、2017-08-08

|One Building remains

Hekirichi Bastion Fort of Matsumae Clan

|120x120px

|Hokuto, Hokkaido

|1855

|A defensive structure combining tactical theory adapted to the peak of artillery warfare with the star-shaped bastion style, developed 150 years after Vauban’s geometric refinements. The foundational theory is a Dutch translation of teachings from a professor at the Saint-Cyr Military Academy.{{Cite book |last=Savart |first=Nicolas-Pierre-Antoine |url=https://www.google.co.jp/books/edition/Cours_%C3%A9l%C3%A9mentaire_de_fortification_%C3%A0/UKc6AAAAcAAJ?hl=ja&gbpv=0 |title=Cours élémentaire de fortification à l'usage des élèves de l'École spéciale militaire |date=1825 |publisher=Anselin et Pochard |language=fr}}{{Cite book |last=Savart |first=Nicolas |url=https://www.google.co.jp/books/edition/Beginselen_der_versterkingskunst/LfkF2TcDH5kC?hl=ja&gbpv=0 |title=Beginselen der versterkingskunst |date=1827 |publisher=Gebroeders Van Cleef |language=nl}}{{Cite journal |last=Taichiro |first=Tokita |date=31 Jan 2024 |title=Research of the constracton of 19th century's Western military defence system at Matsumae-han-Heirichi-Jinya Bastion Fort as "First bastion fort in Japan" , For understanding "bastion forts" in Japan |url=https://sitereports.nabunken.go.jp/ja/search/item/132877 |journal=Research bulletin of Hokuto City Hometown Museum |issue=1 |pages=1–59 |via=Hokuto City Hometown Museum}}

|The outer fortifications and battery structures (earthworks)remain well

|French style bastion fort[https://www.visit-hokkaido.jp/korezo/detail/18 五稜郭だけじゃない！四稜郭もあれば三稜郭や七稜郭もあった?!] Good day 北海道,2019年10月14日アクセス

|Ruins

Togeshita daiba

|Nanae, Hokkaido

|Seven horned Star-shaped redoubt, however, none of its extremities feature bastions.

|Ruins

= Japanese castles with French-style buildings =

class="wikitable sortable"
Castle ! Image ! Location ! data-sort-type=number \| First Built ! Western style buildings installed ! Remaining French-style building
Shibata Castle \|120px \|Shibata, Niigata Prefecture \|Kamakura period \|Meiji period \|barracks[https://www.mod.go.jp/pco/niigata/HP/sirakabe.html　白壁兵舎　広報史料館] 自衛隊新潟地方協力本部、2019年10月15日アクセス
Nagoya Castle \|120px \|Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture \|Sengoku period \|Meiji period \|barracks (relocated to Meiji-mura)[https://www.meijimura.com/enjoy/sight/building/4-36.html 歩兵第六聯隊兵舎] 博物館明治村、2019年10月14日アクセス)
Matsuyama Castle \|120px \|Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture \|1603 \|1922 \|villa[https://www.visitehimejapan.com/en/see-and-do/864] Visit Ehime Japan、2021年10月6日アクセス)

class="wikitable sortable"

Castle

! Image

! Location

! data-sort-type=number | First Built

! Western style buildings installed

! Remaining French-style building

Shibata Castle

|120px

|Shibata, Niigata Prefecture

|Kamakura period

|Meiji period

|barracks[https://www.mod.go.jp/pco/niigata/HP/sirakabe.html　白壁兵舎　広報史料館] 自衛隊新潟地方協力本部、2019年10月15日アクセス

Nagoya Castle

|120px

|Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture

|Sengoku period

|Meiji period

|barracks (relocated to Meiji-mura)[https://www.meijimura.com/enjoy/sight/building/4-36.html 歩兵第六聯隊兵舎] 博物館明治村、2019年10月14日アクセス)

Matsuyama Castle

|120px

|Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture

|1603

|1922

|villa[https://www.visitehimejapan.com/en/see-and-do/864] Visit Ehime Japan、2021年10月6日アクセス)

English style castle

= Japanese castles with English-style buildings =

class="wikitable sortable"
Castle ! Image ! Location ! data-sort-type=number \| First Built ! Western style buildings installed ! Remaining English style buildings
Osaka Castle \|120px \|Osaka, Osaka Prefecture \|1583 \|Meiji period \|Headquarters of the 4th Division of the Imperial Japanese Army (now Miraiza Osaka-jo)橋爪紳也、『大大阪モダン建築』、青幻舎、2007

class="wikitable sortable"

Castle

! Image

! Location

! data-sort-type=number | First Built

! Western style buildings installed

! Remaining English style buildings

Osaka Castle

|120px

|Osaka, Osaka Prefecture

|1583

|Meiji period

|Headquarters of the 4th Division of the Imperial Japanese Army
(now Miraiza Osaka-jo)橋爪紳也、『大大阪モダン建築』、青幻舎、2007

Notes

References

{{Cite book|author=向井一雄|year=2017|title=よみがえる古代山城国際戦争と防衛ライン（歴史文化ライブラリー440）|publisher=吉川弘文館|isbn=978-4642058407|ref={{Harvid|向井一雄|2017年}}}}
{{Cite book|year=2006|title=国指定史跡怡土城跡（前原市文化財調査報告書第94集）|publisher=前原市教育委員会|ref={{Harvid|国指定史跡怡土城跡|2006}}}} - リンクは九州国立博物館「西都太宰府」資料観覧ライブラリー。

List of foreign-style castles in Japan

Korean style castles

Chinese style castle

Portuguese style castle

French style castles

= French style bastion fort =

= Japanese castles with French-style buildings =

English style castle

= Japanese castles with English-style buildings =

Notes

References

See also