A tour to visit the five National Treasure castles
In Japan, there are twelve castles with original keep structures still standing. Among them, five castles are designated as National Treasures. We toured these five National Treasure castles in a camper van. Departing from Tokyo, it took us four days and three nights on a tight schedule.
First day
Matsue Castle (Shimane Prefecture)
Matsue Castle
There is a distance of 770 km from Tokyo to Matsue Castle. It takes about 10 hours using the expressway. The castle is built on the shore of Lake Shinji and is one of Japan's three major lake castles. From the castle keep, you can overlook Lake Shinji. Around the castle, you can explore the charming Matsue area, including the castle town and sightseeing spots around Lake Shinji.
The stairs inside the castle
A design that is compact yet exudes a sense of solidity.
The view of Lake Shinji from the castle keep
Matsue Castle silhouetted against the sun
Parking lot
Shiroyama Nishi Parking Lot, a short distance from the castle
The parking lot in front of the castle has height restrictions, making it unsuitable for most camper vans. However, there is the Shiroyama Nishi Parking Lot nearby. This is an unmanned 24-hour parking lot. Although it requires a bit of a walk to reach the castle keep, you can enjoy sites like the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum along the way.
Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum
A charming townscape that invites exploration
Horikawa Pleasure Boat
Matsue Castle
- Address
- 4-1 Marunouchi, Matsumoto, Nagano
RV Park "RV Park BIZEN BASE CAMP"
This RV park is about 200km away from Matsue Castle. Himeji Castle is 56km away from here. Bizen City is famous for its pottery called Bizen ware.
RV Park BIZEN BASE CAMP
- Address
- 259-1 259-1 Ibe, Bizen City, Okayama
- Tel
- +81-90-1334-4600
2nd day
Himeji Castle
The beautiful Himeji Castle is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main keep of Himeji Castle has a history of over 400 years.
The spacious interior of the castle
You can overlook the city of Himeji from the castle keep.
The Japanese garden located within the castle
Parking lot
The Otemon Parking Lot located in front of the castle
The parking lot is located in front of the entrance to the castle.
Himeji Castle
- Address
- 68 Honmachi, Himeji, Hyogo
3rd day
Hikone Castle (Shiga Prefecture)
Hikone Castle
Hikone Castle is a castle that excels in its original military function. Various ingenious features, such as the "corridor bridge" where the bridge can be dropped when enemy soldiers approach, have been implemented.
corridor bridge
Inside the Tenbin Yagura
You can see Lake Biwa from the castle keep.
The bell rings on time.
Parking lot
There is a parking lot near the castle.
Hikone Castle
- Address
- 1-1 Konkicho, Hikone, Shiga
Inuyama Castle (Aichi Prefecture)
Inuyama Castle
The distance between Hikone Castle and Inuyama Castle is approximately 80 km.The slope to climb up to the keep is steep, but from the keep, you can enjoy a splendid view.The streets of Inuyama Castle town have charming architecture.
Wonderful view of the Kiso River
Inside Inuyama Castle
Newly renovated staircase
castle town
Parking lot
Parking lot is large and close to the castle.
Inuyama Castle
- Address
- Kitakoken-65-2 Inuyama, Aichi
4th day
Matsumoto Castle (Nagano Prefecture)
Matsumoto Castle
Matsumoto Castle is a beautiful castle with a jet-black keep reflecting on the water against the backdrop of the Japanese Alps. The area around the castle also features charming streets.
View from the castle
Inside Matsumoto Castle
The garden seen from the castle window
Elegant moon-viewing tower
Emotional Matsumoto City
Parking lot
There is a parking lot near the castle.
Matsumoto Castle
- Address
- 4-1 Marunouchi, Matsumoto, Nagano
Travel tips
- Visiting a single castle can take time due to its size and the interesting shops in the surrounding town.
- Around the castle, you'll find museums and beautiful gardens. Enjoy exploring the castle town, which also boasts delicious restaurants.
- Photography can be affected by the time of day. The best angles and lighting conditions vary depending on the time of day.