![Top 10 Castles in Tohoku](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/488/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2016/12/58536c7caac65_58536c72eb0d3_1720852576.png)
Top 10 Castles in Tohoku
Spared many of the fierce territorial battles of the Warring States Period, the castles of northeastern Japan are a little different from those you'll find to the south and west.
![9 Castles to Hit in Hyogo after Himeji](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/488/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2016/05/572a12e019387_572a12d208fcd_1080607585.jpg)
9 Castles to Hit in Hyogo after Himeji
What do you do once you've seen the big attraction and still want more castle action? We've got nine answers right here!
![The 4 Forts & Castles of Hokkaido](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/488/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2016/05/572a951f21dd6_572a950b553b1_811289333.jpg)
The 4 Forts & Castles of Hokkaido
Hokkaido has only one castle; the rest of its fortifications are actually relatively modern forts. And in the late 1860s, they were the site of the last hurrah of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
![Key Castle Vocabulary](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/488/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2016/05/572b309d37f02_572b3091b89d9_837793535.jpg)
Key Castle Vocabulary
Don't know a 'tenshu' from a 'hori'? We're here to help!
![16 Splendid Shikoku Castles](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/488/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2016/05/57271f17dec89_57271efc10563_1776451106.jpg)
16 Splendid Shikoku Castles
The island of Shikoku may be small, but who would've guessed it once contained 16 amazing castles, all in various shapes and forms!
![Japan's 5 Greatest Castle Ruins](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/488/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2016/05/5726aabeba8d8_5726a84b5bf3f_1452409212.jpg)
Japan's 5 Greatest Castle Ruins
Just because these castles are ruined doesn't mean they aren't spectacular!
![The 5 Castles of Okinawa](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/488/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2017/08/5987e3800579d_5987e3718e332_85138432.jpg)
The 5 Castles of Okinawa
Okinawa's castles bear testament to the three kingdoms that fought to dominate the island chain in the 14th and 15th centuries.
![List: Japan's 12 Original-Construction Castles](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/488/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2016/05/57259633e4ffa_5725962cb96eb_1795256158.jpg)
List: Japan's 12 Original-Construction Castles
While Japan is home to over 300 castles, there are only 12 that still retain their original castle keep. These 12 so-called 'original construction' castles are the cream of the crop.
![Japan's Top 11 Reconstructed Castles](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/488/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2016/05/5726c32a7189b_5726c31c75715_1587747616.jpg)
Japan's Top 11 Reconstructed Castles
Like a phoenix rising from the flames, so too have these restored beauties come back to life to prosper again on our list of the best reconstructed castles across Japan.
![Japan's 12 Best Keepless Castles](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/488/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2017/02/58a54b8124ce7_58a54b6264ad9_1139170417.jpg)
Japan's 12 Best Keepless Castles
These castles may not have keeps, but many of them are much older than any of Japan's so-called "original construction" castles.