Free Tool
Famous Japanese Castles Quiz
Japan once had thousands of castles, but only twelve original keeps survive from the samurai age — five of them National Treasures. This quiz gathers those twelve plus eight more famous castles, from Osaka's green-and-gold keep to Edo Castle itself, each drawn as a classic Edo-style ukiyo-e woodblock print. Browse the gallery first, then see how many you can name from the picture alone.
Tap a print to see the castle's Japanese name, reading and story. Ready? Switch to Quiz.
Advanced — the deeper cuts
The prints are original ukiyo-e woodblock interpretations in the classic Edo landscape style — each castle's shape and signature features are drawn true to the real place. The photo in each answer is an AI-generated photographic impression of the castle, not an actual photograph.
Can you read the site names?
Every name above is written in kanji with its reading. Our kanji course teaches you to read them for real — mnemonics included.
More landmarks? Try the World Heritage quiz →
FAQ
How many original castles does Japan have?
Twelve keeps survive from the Edo period or earlier — from Hirosaki in the snowy north to Kōchi in Shikoku. Every other castle keep you see in Japan today is a modern reconstruction, mostly built in the 1950s and 60s.
What is the oldest castle in Japan?
By current tree-ring dating, Inuyama Castle's keep, built around 1585. Maruoka Castle was long billed as the oldest, but a 2019 scientific survey re-dated its timbers to the 1620s.
Which Japanese castles are National Treasures?
Five: Himeji, Matsumoto, Inuyama, Hikone and Matsue. Matsue is the newest, promoted in 2015 after two rediscovered prayer tablets proved its 1611 completion date.
Which Japanese castles are World Heritage sites?
Himeji Castle is listed in its own right (1993). Nijō Castle is part of the Ancient Kyoto listing, and the ruins beneath Shuri Castle belong to Okinawa's gusuku listing.
Why were so many Japanese castles destroyed?
Three waves: an 1873 government order to demolish castles as feudal relics, fires and earthquakes over the centuries, and the WWII air raids that burned original keeps such as Nagoya and Hiroshima. That history is what makes the twelve survivors so precious.
Are the quiz images real photos?
No — every castle is drawn as an original woodblock print in the classic Edo meisho-e (famous place) landscape style. Shapes and signature features are kept true to the real castles so you can recognize them.