Castles in Japan

[squidy]

Hey guys! i have a thing for Castles and i definitely would like to visit at least one of the castles in Japan. I will staying in Tokyo(Shinjuku) and the furthest i will travel out of tokyo will be mt fuji.

So my question is, any castles that i can visit which is nearby to tokyo? Nearby as in 1 or 2 hours of traveling time.

TIA!

 

[kifo]

Hey guys! i have a thing for Castles and i definitely would like to visit at least one of the castles in Japan. I will staying in Tokyo(Shinjuku) and the furthest i will travel out of tokyo will be mt fuji.

So my question is, any castles that i can visit which is nearby to tokyo? Nearby as in 1 or 2 hours of traveling time.

TIA!

There is an extensive and informative website on Japanese castles here. Choose one you like?

Japanese Castle Selector

 

[anyhowsaysay]

I think the closest famous castle is Nagoya Castle which is around 2 hours away from Tokyo by Shinkansen (Train Ticket quite expensive for round trip unless u got JR Pass?)


Nagoya Castle by Liwei♪, on Flickr

Inside Tokyo also got Edo Castle (Imperial Family). However no more main keep and cannot go inside.

But you got more time to spare then can consider Matsumoto Castle which is around 2 hours 40 mins from Tokyo

Matsumoto Castle


Matsumoto Castle by Liwei♪, on Flickr

Is one of the few original castle in Japan and considered the top three castle (Along with Himeji under repair and Kumamoto Castle in Kyushu).

 

[snap99]

suggest you take a bus to Matsumoto and visit matsumoto castle. You wont be disappointed with it. Take the keio bus from the bus center opposite the Shunjuku station west exit ....

 

[squidy]

suggest you take a bus to Matsumoto and visit matsumoto castle. You wont be disappointed with it. Take the keio bus from the bus center opposite the Shunjuku station west exit ....

the thing is i only have 1 day for Matsumoto, and the trip is around 3hours for bus ride right?

 

[kifo]

the thing is i only have 1 day for Matsumoto, and the trip is around 3hours for bus ride right?

Personally I think if you are going to spend 3 hrs on the train/bus to get to someplace, I think it is only worth it if you spend a night there. It is Y6000 yen to get there.

*‚‘¬ƒoƒX*¼–{*|*V*h*ü

 

[stars87]

suggest you take a bus to Matsumoto and visit matsumoto castle. You wont be disappointed with it. Take the keio bus from the bus center opposite the Shunjuku station west exit ....

Headed there on April 21 bro. Thanks for the input. Will only get there at 6pm so won't be able to enter the castle. Am I missing much? Doing toyota factory tour in the morning and then headed to matsumoto only in the evening.hoping I can catch the Sakura matsuri and the castle in cherry blossoms. I heard it is lit up at night during Sakura season

Excited about it.

From nagoya can take the Ltd express shinano wide view. About three hours. A train every hour.

Another suggestion would be hirosaki. Have never been there but it has over 6000 cherry blossoms and 280 different types of Sakuras. Would be pretty pretty in April. Have read that they have an apple festival in may right after Sakura festival too

Although strictly not a castle, goryokaku is a must go. For gintama fans, this is where the shinsengumi made their last stand along with toshio hijikata (mayora)

 

[stars87]

Sorry to hijack thread ts. Two hours out of Tokyo is a little bit hard..hmm how about tracing the tokaido route? Probably will find castles along the route and suitably close to your travel time and distance.

 

[squidy]

hey guys thanks for the inputs. my gf and i have concluded that it is just not worth the time and money to go Matsumoto as we only have 1 day for it.

Will be going there the next time and get a JR pass instead.

Thanks again!

 

[snap99]

hey guys thanks for the inputs. my gf and i have concluded that it is just not worth the time and money to go Matsumoto as we only have 1 day for it.

Will be going there the next time and get a JR pass instead.

Thanks again!

yup ... you should always combine a trip to matsumoto with a trip to kamikochi as well. 2 days + 1 night is the way to do this

 

[snap99]

Headed there on April 21 bro. Thanks for the input. Will only get there at 6pm so won't be able to enter the castle. Am I missing much? Doing toyota factory tour in the morning and then headed to matsumoto only in the evening.hoping I can catch the Sakura matsuri and the castle in cherry blossoms. I heard it is lit up at night during Sakura season

Excited about it.

From nagoya can take the Ltd express shinano wide view. About three hours. A train every hour.

Another suggestion would be hirosaki. Have never been there but it has over 6000 cherry blossoms and 280 different types of Sakuras. Would be pretty pretty in April. Have read that they have an apple festival in may right after Sakura festival too

Although strictly not a castle, goryokaku is a must go. For gintama fans, this is where the shinsengumi made their last stand along with toshio hijikata (mayora)

the castle is pretty authentic both inside and outside ... one of my favorites

The feeling of walking with your socks on a cool wooden floor is something

 

[stars87]

the castle is pretty authentic both inside and outside ... one of my favorites

The feeling of walking with your socks on a cool wooden floor is something

I wanna but my itinerary is packed. Toyota museum, then matsumoto, castle and then tateyama murodo.

Terribly out of shape but I will be attempting to hike up in the snow to the onsens at muriakage. Highest onsens in Japan

 

[stars87]

Bro snap99 u mean hirosaki? Ok. I should be able to get there at 5 on April 25. Resort shirakami from akita on the scenic gono sen.

Hoping I can make it in time. Will try to squeeze in a castle tour but I'm torn between rides on the hayabusa or more time at hirosaki

Not much accommodations in hirosaki as well
well. Spending the night in aomori