Hokkaido Castles

北海道

Hokkaido offers a different castle story from the main islands, with later-period forts built as Japan expanded northward during the Edo period. The region's standout site is Goryokaku in Hakodate — a Western-style star fort built in the 1860s and unique in Japan. Most other Hokkaido castles are modest in scale but set against expansive natural scenery. The lack of crowds makes Hokkaido a rewarding destination for visitors who want to explore away from the main tourist trail.

3castles
0original towers
1free entry

Prefectures

Hokkaido

HokkaidoTohokuKantoChubuKansaiChugokuShikokuKyushu & Okinawa
Goryokaku

Goryokaku

五稜郭 · Goryokaku

Ruins

📍 Hokkaido — Hokkaido

Japan's only star fort — a Western military import that became the stage for the Shogunate's final defeat — is best understood from 107 meters above.

B Tourism Score 75/100
C Defense Score 60/100
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Matsumae Castle

Matsumae Castle

松前城 · Matsumae-jo

Reconstructed

📍 Hokkaido — Hokkaido

Japan's northernmost castle and its last — Matsumae is an extreme destination with unique historical status, best experienced buried in cherry blossoms.

D Tourism Score 42/100
C Defense Score 65/100
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Nemuro Peninsula Chashi Ruins

Nemuro Peninsula Chashi Ruins

根室半島チャシ跡群 · Nemuro-hanto Chashiato-gun

Ruins Free

📍 Hokkaido — Hokkaido

Japan's #1 on the famous castles list — remote Ainu earthwork fortresses on clifftops at the easternmost tip of Japan, newly UNESCO-designated.

F Tourism Score 20/100
C Defense Score 60/100
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