List of National Treasures of Japan (castles)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

A white castle with one large five-storied tower and two smaller towers, all built on a stone base.
Himeji Castle is the most visited castle in Japan[1] and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Japanese

Momoyama period and early Edo period.[2]

A new era of castle construction began when the daimyo Nobunaga built

baileys with walls, small towers and pathways.[7] Residential buildings were located in one of the outer circles. The daimyō conducted his business in the citadel.[8]

Almost 100 major castles were built between 1596 and 1615.

donjon that is considered original.[4]

The term "

cultural properties since 1897.[10]
The definition and the criteria have changed since the inception of the term. These castle structures adhere to the current definition, and were designated national treasures when the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties was implemented on June 9, 1951. The items are selected by the
donjon, watch towers, goten (castle palace) [13]and connecting galleries.[12]

Features

National Treasures are found in five cities in central Honshū.
Map showing the location of castle National Treasures in Japan
Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

The fifteen national treasures are distributed over six castles as follows: Nijo Castle has six national treasure structures, Himeji Castle has five national treasure structures; Hikone Castle, Inuyama Castle, Matsue Castle and Matsumoto Castle each have one. Three main types of castles exist. Generally the types are characterised according to the topography of the castle's site and named accordingly: mountain castles (山城, yamajiro); flatland castles (平城, hirajiro), as exemplified by Matsumoto Castle; and flatland mountain castles (平山城, hirayamajiro), which are castles built on hills in a plain such as Himeji Castle, Hikone Castle, Inuyama Castle, and Matsue Castle.[14] The

donjon
can be constructed in two ways. In the older bōrōgata (望楼型) style,[15] the top of the main keep is formed by a type of lookout tower placed on top of one or more hip-and-gable (
irimoya) style roofs. Hikone Castle, Himeji Castle
, Inuyama Castle and Matsue Castle are representative of this style. The sōtōgata (層塔型)[16] style represented by the keep of Matsumoto Castle has a virtually square foundation. Each level is slightly smaller than the one below but maintains the same shape.[17]

Only in rare cases the donjon stands independent of other structures. Generally it is connected to smaller watch towers called yagura, either directly (fukugōshiki (複合式)) or via a connecting gallery (渡櫓, watariyagura) in which case the style is called renketsushiki (連結式).[18][19] Matsumoto Castle has both styles, renketsushiki in the northwest and fukugōshiki in the southeast. At Himeji Castle three watch towers, four connecting galleries and the main donjon enclose a small courtyard.[17] A typical keep would have between three and seven stories discernible from the outside. Its inner structure including the number of floors could differ from the outward appearance.[20] Castle towers at Himeji, Inuyama, Matsue and Matsumoto Castle have one floor more than is visible from the outside.

Usage

The table's columns (except for Image) are sortable pressing the arrows symbols. The following gives an overview of what is included in the table and how the sorting works.

Treasures

Name Castle Construction Date Location Image
Tenshu (天守)[nb 1][21] Hikone Castle
donjon, three stories/three floors with an underground room and entry hall, hongawarabuki roof[ex 1]
Momoyama period
, 1606 		Shiga HikoneHikone, Shiga
35°16′35.21″N 136°15′6.64″E / 35.2764472°N 136.2518444°E / 35.2764472; 136.2518444 (Hikone Castle Tenshu) 		A castle with white walls, dark roofs and many gables on a platform of unhewn stones.
Connecting tower (附櫓, tsukeyagura) and Tamon Tower (多聞櫓, tamon yagura)[nb 1][21] Hikone Castle yaguras, each single-storied, hongawarabuki roof[ex 1]
Momoyama period
, 1606 		Shiga HikoneHikone, Shiga
35°16′35.74″N 136°15′6.68″E / 35.2765944°N 136.2518556°E / 35.2765944; 136.2518556 (Hikone Castle Tamon Tower) 		A single-storied structure connected to a main donjon of a castle. Both have white walls, dark roofs and are built on a platform of unhewn stones.
Big Tenshu (大天守, daitenshu)[23] Himeji Castle main
donjon, five stories/six floors with a one-story basement, with hongawarabuki roof;[ex 1] connected to the ni-corridor in the west and the i-corridor in the north[nb 3]
Momoyama period
, 1608 		Hyōgo Himeji
Himeji, Hyōgo
34°50′21.66″N 134°41′38.67″E / 34.8393500°N 134.6940750°E / 34.8393500; 134.6940750 (Himeji Castle Big Tenshu)
 A large castle tower with white walls and dark roofs on a platform of unhewn stones.
Northwest Small Tower (乾小天守, inui kotenshu)[24] Himeji Castle
donjon three stories/four floors with a one-story basement, with hongawarabuki roof;[ex 1] connected to the ro-corridor in the east and the ha-corridor in the south[nb 3]
Momoyama period
, around 1609 		Hyōgo Himeji
Himeji, Hyōgo
34°50′22.57″N 134°41′37.72″E / 34.8396028°N 134.6938111°E / 34.8396028; 134.6938111 (Himeji Castle Northwest Small Tower)
 A three-storied castle tower with white walls and a dark roof on a platform of unhewn stones. It is connected to a two-storied structure.
West Small Tower (西小天守, nishi kotenshu)[25] Himeji Castle
donjon three stories/three floors with a two-story basement, with hongawarabuki roof;[ex 1] connected to the ni-corridor in the east and the ha-corridor in the north[nb 3]
Momoyama period
, around 1609 		Hyōgo Himeji
Himeji, Hyōgo
34°50′21.83″N 134°41′37.62″E / 34.8393972°N 134.6937833°E / 34.8393972; 134.6937833 (Himeji Castle West Small Tower)
 A three-storied castle tower with white walls and a dark roof on a platform of unhewn stones. It is connected to a two-storied structure.
East Small Tower (東小天守, higashi kotenshu)[26] Himeji Castle
donjon three stories/three floors with a one-story basement, with hongawarabuki roof;[ex 1] connected to the ro-corridor in the west and the i-corridor in the south[nb 3]
Momoyama period
, around 1609 		Hyōgo Himeji
Himeji, Hyōgo
34°50′22.45″N 134°41′39.11″E / 34.8395694°N 134.6941972°E / 34.8395694; 134.6941972 (Himeji Castle East Small Tower)
 A small three-storied castle tower next to a large five-storied tower. Both have white walls, dark roofs and are built on a platform of unhewn stones.
I, Ro, Ha, Ni-corridors (イ, ロ, ハ, ニの渡櫓, i, ro, ha, ni no watariyagura)[nb 3][nb 4][27] Himeji Castle two stories/two floors with a one-story basement, hongawarabuki roof;[ex 1]

I-corridor: between Big Tenshu and East Small Tower, 9.03 metres (29.6 ft) high on a 8.88 m (29.1 ft) high stone wall
Ro-corridor: between East Small Tower and Northwest Small Tower, 9.03 metres (29.6 ft) high on a 8.3 m (27 ft) high stone wall
Ha-corridor: between Northwest Small Tower and West Small Tower, 9.17 metres (30.1 ft) high on a 10.06 m (33.0 ft) high stone wall
Ni-corridor: between West Small Tower and Big Tenshu, 9.68 metres (31.8 ft) high covering an area of 56.78 m2 (611.2 sq ft)

Momoyama period
, around 1609 		Hyōgo Himeji
Himeji, Hyōgo
34°50′22.06″N 134°41′38.25″E / 34.8394611°N 134.6939583°E / 34.8394611; 134.6939583 (Himeji Castle I, Ro, Ha, Ni-corridors)
 A two-storied structure between two three-storied castle towers next to a large five-storied tower. Each has white walls, dark roofs and is built on a platform of unhewn stones.

Courtyard surrounded by castle towers and lower structures.

Tenshu (天守)[28] Inuyama Castle
donjon, three stories/four floors with a two-story basement, ca 25 m (82 ft) high, with hongawarabuki roof.[ex 1]
There are single-storied watchtowers with hongawarabuki roofs on the south and west side
Momoyama period
, 1601 		Aichi InuyamaInuyama, Aichi
35°23′18″N 136°56′21″E / 35.38833°N 136.93917°E / 35.38833; 136.93917 (Inuyama Castle Tenshu) 		A castle with white walls and dark roofs on a base of unhewn stones.
Tenshu (天守)[nb 5][29][30] Matsue Castle
donjon, four stories/five floors with an underground room, hongawarabuki roof[ex 1]
Momoyama period
, 1607–1611 		Shimane Matsue
Matsue, Shimane
35°28′30.48″N 133°3′2.57″E / 35.4751333°N 133.0507139°E / 35.4751333; 133.0507139 (Matsue Castle Tenshu)
 Main keep of a castle with dark walls, dark roofs on a platform of unhewn stones.
Connecting tower (附櫓, tsukeyagura)[nb 5][29][30] Matsue Castle yagura, one story/one floor, hongawarabuki roof[ex 1]
Momoyama period
, 1607–1611 		Shimane Matsue
Matsue, Shimane
35°28′29.86″N 133°3′2.71″E / 35.4749611°N 133.0507528°E / 35.4749611; 133.0507528
 Small tower attached to a castle with dark walls, dark roofs on a platform of unhewn stones.
Tenshu (天守)[nb 2] Matsumoto Castle main
donjon, five stories/six floors, with hongawarabuki roof[ex 1]
Momoyama period, Bunroku
era 		Nagano MatsumotoMatsumoto, Nagano
36°14′19.03″N 137°58′7.87″E / 36.2386194°N 137.9688528°E / 36.2386194; 137.9688528 (Matsumoto Castle Tenshu) 		A large 5-storied castle tower with black wooden walls located on a platform of unhewn stones surrounded on two sides by water. The tower is connected to lower structure on two sides.
Northwest Small Tower (乾小天守, inui Kotenshu)[nb 2] Matsumoto Castle secondary
donjon, three stories/four floors, hongawarabuki roof[ex 1]
Momoyama period, Bunroku
era 		Nagano MatsumotoMatsumoto, Nagano
36°14′19.66″N 137°58′7.81″E / 36.2387944°N 137.9688361°E / 36.2387944; 137.9688361 (Matsumoto Castle Northwest Small Tower) 		A 3-storied castle tower with black wooden walls located on a platform of unhewn stones above a water filled moat. The tower is connected to a lower structure on one sides.
Connecting Tower (渡櫓, watari yagura)[nb 2] Matsumoto Castle yagura, two stories/two floors, hongawarabuki roof[ex 1]
Momoyama period, Bunroku
era 		Nagano MatsumotoMatsumoto, Nagano
36°14′19.42″N 137°58′7.8″E / 36.2387278°N 137.968833°E / 36.2387278; 137.968833 (Matsumoto Castle Connecting Tower) 		A 2-storied structure connecting a 3-storied castle tower with a 5-stoired tower. All three structures have black wooden walls and are located on a platform of unhewn stones above a water filled moat.
Southeast Connecting Tower (辰巳附櫓, tatsumi tsukeyagura)[nb 2] Matsumoto Castle yagura, two stories/two floors, hongawarabuki roof[ex 1]
Momoyama period, Bunroku
era 		Nagano MatsumotoMatsumoto, Nagano
36°14′18.76″N 137°58′8.32″E / 36.2385444°N 137.9689778°E / 36.2385444; 137.9689778 (Matsumoto Castle Southeast Connecting Tower) 		A two-storied tower connected on one side to a five-storied castle tower and on the other to a lower one-storied structure. All three structures have black wooden walls and are located on a platform of unhewn stones.
Moon-viewing Tower (月見櫓, tsukimi yagura)[nb 2] Matsumoto Castle yagura, one-storied with one-storied basement, hongawarabuki roof[ex 1] early Edo period, Kan'ei era Nagano MatsumotoMatsumoto, Nagano
36°14′18.77″N 137°58′8.63″E / 36.2385472°N 137.9690639°E / 36.2385472; 137.9690639 (Matsumoto Castle Moon-viewing Tower) 		A one-storied structure with a veranda with red handrail connected to a two-storied castle tower. Both are located on a platform of unhewn stones.
Nijo Castle Ninomaru Palace and Waiting Room and Carriage Porch (二条城 二の丸御殿遠侍及び車寄, nijōjō ninomaru goten tōzamurai oyobi kurumayose)
Nijo Castle
 goten waiting room building, one storied with tile roof and 'kurumayose' entrance with cypress bark roof early Edo period, 1625-1626 Kyoto Kyoto
Kyoto, Kyoto
Nijo Castle Ninomaru Palace Reception Room (二条城 二の丸御殿式台, nijoujou ninomaru goten shikidai)
Nijo Castle
 goten reception hall structure, one-storied with tiled roof early Edo period, 1625-1626 Kyoto Kyoto
Kyoto, Kyoto
Nijo Castle Ninomaru Palace Great Hall (二条城 二の丸御殿大広間, nijoujou ninomaru goten oohiroma)
Nijo Castle
 goten main hall structure, one-storied gable style with tiled roof early Edo period, 1625-1626 Kyoto Kyoto
Kyoto, Kyoto
Nijo Castle Ninomaru Palace Sotetsu Room (二条城 二の丸御殿蘇鉄之間, nijōjō ninomaru goten sotetsu no ma)
Nijo Castle
 goten passageway structure, one-storied with tiled roof early Edo period, 1625-1626 Kyoto Kyoto
Kyoto, Kyoto
Nijo Castle Ninomaru Palace Black Drawing Room (Small Great Hall) (二条城 二の丸御殿黒書院（小広間), nijōjō ninomaru goten kuroshoin (ko hiroma))
Nijo Castle
 goten hall structure, one-storied gable style with tiled roof early Edo period, 1625-1626 Kyoto Kyoto
Kyoto, Kyoto
Nijo Castle Ninomaru Palace White Drawing Room (Throne Room) (二条城 二の丸御殿白書院（御座の間, nijōjō ninomaru goten shiroshoin (gozanoma))
Nijo Castle
 goten hall structure/throne room, one-storied gable style with tiled roof early Edo period, 1625-1626 Kyoto Kyoto
Kyoto, Kyoto
Shiroshoin of Ninomaru-Goden Hall of Nijo Castle

See also

Notes

General
  1. ^ a b c d The National Treasure structures of Hikone Castle are registered as a single National Treasure under one registration number. Only in the main treasure table of this article, the single entry is split in two parts for readability.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g The National Treasure structures of Matsumoto Castle are registered as a single National Treasure under one registration number. Only in the main treasure table of this article, the single entry is split in five parts for readability.
  3. ^ a b c d e The four corridors at Himeji Castle are labeled as "I", "Ro", "Ha", "Ni" corresponding to "A", "B", "C", "D".
  4. ^ The kitchen is attached to the nomination.
  5. ^ a b The National Treasure structures of Matsue Castle are registered as a single National Treasure under one registration number. Only in the main treasure table of this article, the single entry is split in two parts for readability.
Architecture
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o (hongawarabuki, 本瓦葺): a tile roof composed of flat broad concave tiles and semi-cylindrical convex tiles covering the seams of the former[22]

References

  1. ^ Turnbull & Dennis 2003, p. 52
  2. ^ a b c d e Deal 2007, p. 315
  3. ^ Coaldrake 1996, p. 104
  4. ^ a b Nishi & Hozumi 1996, p. 93
  5. ^ a b Coaldrake 1996, p. 106
  6. ^ Coaldrake 1996, pp. 105–106
  7. ^ Turnbull & Dennis 2003, p. 21
  8. ^ Deal 2007, p. 318
  9. ^ a b Coaldrake 1996, p. 105
  10. ^ Coaldrake 1996, p. 248
  11. ^ "Cultural Properties for Future Generations" (PDF). Tokyo, Japan: Agency for Cultural Affairs, Cultural Properties Department. March 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-12-16. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
  12. ^ a b c 国指定文化財 データベース [Database of National Cultural Properties] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on 2017-05-02. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
  13. ^ https://nijo-jocastle.city.kyoto.lg.jp/introduction/highlights/ninomaru/?lang=en
  14. ^ Deal 2007, p. 316
  15. JAANUS – Japanese Architecture and Art Net User System
    . Retrieved 2009-11-09.
  16. JAANUS – Japanese Architecture and Art Net User System
    . Retrieved 2009-11-09.
  17. ^ a b "Donjon". jcastle.info. Archived from the original on 2017-12-16. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
  18. JAANUS – Japanese Architecture and Art Net User System
    . Retrieved 2009-11-09.
  19. JAANUS – Japanese Architecture and Art Net User System
    . Retrieved 2009-11-09.
  20. ^ Turnbull & Dennis 2003, p. 30
  21. ^ a b "Hikone Castle". jcastle.info. Archived from the original on 2017-12-16. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
  22. JAANUS – Japanese Architecture and Art Net User System
    . Retrieved 2009-11-09.
  23. Himeji city. Archived from the original
    on 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  24. Himeji city
    . Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  25. Himeji city. Archived from the original
    on 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  26. Himeji city. Archived from the original
    on 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  27. Himeji city. Archived from the original
    on 2016-05-08. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  28. ^ "Inuyama Castle". Japanese National Tourism Organization. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
  29. ^ a b "Matsue Castle". jcastle.info. Archived from the original on 2017-12-16. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
  30. ^
    Matsue city
    . Retrieved 2015-09-21.

Bibliography

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