Japanese Castle Name Generator

Real keeps, mountain forts and castles for fiction

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Generate Japanese castle names in plain romaji and in English form: labeled real castles such as Himeji-jo and Matsumoto-jo, place-name castles like Matsukaze-jo and Sugitani Castle, poetic names like Shiratsuru-jo (white crane), Ryukyuan gusuku, and castles for samurai fiction such as Kurogane-jo (black iron).

About Japanese castle names

A Japanese castle is almost always named for the place it stands on, with the suffix -jo added: Himeji-jo is simply the castle at Himeji. In English the same name becomes Himeji Castle, and this list uses both forms in plain romaji without macrons. On its own the word for castle is shiro; -jo is the reading used after a place name. In Okinawa the Ryukyuan word is gusuku, as in Shuri and Nakijin.

Many castles also carry a poetic second name drawn from birds, colors and weather: Himeji is the White Heron Castle and black-walled Matsumoto is the Crow Castle. Mountain castles tend to take the name of their peak (-yama, -mine, -take), while lowland and water castles are named for rivers, marshes and bays.

Japan had thousands of castles, and most towns and many hills carried one at some point, so the patterns here are real ones. Every entry marked (real) is a historical castle, fort or residence, or a real second name of one, with a short note. Unmarked entries are ordinary Japanese place names, or poetic and martial words, with the castle suffix, meant for stories, games and maps, and some of the place names will match a minor real castle somewhere. A gloss in parentheses gives the plain meaning of the name's parts.

How to choose Japanese castle names

  • Decide the form first. Use -jo (Takamine-jo) for a Japanese-language feel and Castle (Sugitani Castle) for English prose, and keep to one form within a story.
  • Match the name to the ground. A ridge-top stronghold suits -yama, -mine or -take names such as Washigamine-jo; a castle behind moats and marshes suits river and bay names such as Koinuma-jo.
  • Give an important castle a second, poetic name the way real ones have: a bird, a color or a weather word, like Shiratsuru-jo (white crane).
  • Before you treat an unmarked name as fictional, search it. Japan had so many castles that a plausible place name may belong to a real ruin.
  • For Okinawa or a Ryukyu-inspired setting use Gusuku rather than -jo; the list includes real examples such as Nakijin Gusuku.

Frequently asked questions

What does -jo mean in a Japanese castle name?

-jo is the reading of the character for castle when it follows a place name, so Kumamoto-jo means Kumamoto Castle. The same character read on its own is shiro. Writing both, as in Himeji-jo Castle, says castle twice; some English signs do it, but it is worth avoiding in fiction.

Are the names in this list real castles?

Some are. Entries marked (real), such as Inuyama-jo and Shuri Gusuku, are historical castles, forts or residences, or real second names of them, with a short note on each. The unmarked names follow real naming patterns and are meant for fiction, but Japan had thousands of castles, so a few of them will share a name with a real site.

Why do some castles have two names?

Many castles picked up a literary second name beside the place name. Himeji-jo is called Shirasagi-jo, the White Heron Castle, and Matsumoto-jo is Karasu-jo, the Crow Castle. The list gives such a name only together with the castle it belongs to; other poetic entries, like Hakuun-jo (white cloud), are written in the same tradition for fiction.

What is a gusuku?

Gusuku is the Okinawan word for the stone-walled castles of the Ryukyu Islands, such as Shuri, Nakijin and Katsuren. They belong to the Ryukyu Kingdom and the lords before it rather than to the samurai domains, and they are known for curving limestone walls.

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All 1,000 Japanese castle names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 56 names

  • Adan Gusuku (pandanus)
  • Agari Gusuku (Okinawan: east)
  • Agehacho Castle (swallowtail butterfly)
  • Agena Gusuku (real; ruins in central Okinawa)
  • Aizome Castle
  • Aizu-Wakamatsu-jo (real; called Tsuruga-jo)
  • Akagane-jo (copper)
  • Akagawa Castle (red river)
  • Akaishi-jo
  • Akaiwayama Castle
  • Akane-jo (madder red)
  • Akanegahara-jo
  • Akashi Castle (real; in Harima)
  • Akatsuki-jo (dawn)

A, continued

  • Akayama-jo (red mountain)
  • Akebono Castle
  • Akita-jo (real; ancient fort in Dewa)
  • Akizuki-jo (real; in Chikuzen)
  • Ako Castle (real; castle of the Ako domain)
  • Amagase-jo
  • Amanogawa Castle
  • Anraku Castle
  • Aoba-jo (real; Green Leaf, second name of Sendai)
  • Aobuchi-jo (blue pool)
  • Aogawa Castle
  • Aonami Gusuku (blue waves)
  • Aosagi-jo (grey heron)
  • Aota Castle

A, continued

  • Aoyama-jo (green mountain)
  • Arakawa Castle (rough river)
  • Arashi no Shiro (storms)
  • Arioka-jo (real; held by Araki Murashige in Settsu)
  • Asagasumi-jo (morning haze)
  • Asagi-jo (pale blue-green)
  • Asagiri-jo
  • Asahi Castle
  • Asahidake Castle (morning sun peak)
  • Asahina-jo
  • Asakawa Castle (shallow river)
  • Asanagi-jo (morning calm)
  • Asanuma Castle
  • Asaseno-jo

A, continued

  • Ashihama Castle (reed beach)
  • Ashihara Castle
  • Ashikaga-yakata (real; fortified residence of the Ashikaga)
  • Ashinuma-jo (reed marsh)
  • Ashiura-jo (reed bay)
  • Atagoyama-jo
  • Atsumi Castle
  • Autumn Mist Castle (Akigiri)
  • Awaji Nushima Castle
  • Awano Castle
  • Awayuki Castle
  • Ayamegahara-jo
  • Ayugawa Castle (sweetfish river)
  • Azuchi-jo (real; built by Oda Nobunaga beside Lake Biwa)

B: 14 names

  • Banjaku-jo (bedrock)
  • Bishamon-jo (Bishamonten, guardian of the north)
  • Bishamondai-jo
  • Bitchu Kawakami Castle
  • Bitchu Matsuyama-jo (real; original keep on a mountain)
  • Bitchu Takamatsu-jo (real; flooded by Hideyoshi in 1582)
  • Black Lacquer Castle (Kuro-urushi)
  • Blue Sky Castle (Aozora)
  • Blue Tile Castle (Aogawara)
  • Botanzuka Castle
  • Bungo Kunisaki Castle
  • Bushin-jo (god of war)
  • Buzen Kanda Castle
  • Byobuiwa Castle (folding-screen rock)

C: 15 names

  • Calling Crane Castle (Meikaku)
  • Chanoki Castle
  • Chatan Gusuku (real; ruins in central Okinawa)
  • Chibana Gusuku (real; ruins in central Okinawa)
  • Chidori-jo (real; Plover Castle, second name of Matsue)
  • Chigai-ya Castle (crossed arrows)
  • Chihaya-jo (real; Kusunoki Masashige's mountain fort)
  • Chikugo Mizuma Castle
  • Chikuzen Ono-jo (real; ancient mountain fort above Dazaifu)
  • Chinen Gusuku (real; ruins in southern Okinawa)
  • Chitose Castle
  • Chiyoda-jo (real; second name of Edo)
  • Churaumi Gusuku (Okinawan: beautiful sea)
  • Cicada Rain Castle (Semishigure)
  • Cloud Sea Castle (Unkai)

D: 5 names

  • Defune Castle (departing ship)
  • Deigo Gusuku (coral tree)
  • Dewa Shonai Castle
  • Distant Thunder Castle (Enrai)
  • Dozan Castle

E: 11 names

  • Eboshiyama-jo
  • Echigo Uonuma Castle
  • Echigo Yukimura-jo
  • Echizen Kuzuryu-jo
  • Echizen Ono Castle (real; hilltop castle in Echizen)
  • Edo-jo (real; seat of the Tokugawa shoguns)
  • Eiraku Castle
  • Eiyu-jo (hero)
  • Enokido Castle
  • Etchu Tonami Castle
  • Evening Bell Castle (Bansho)

F: 34 names

  • Fallen Leaf Castle (Ochiba)
  • Firefly Castle (Hotaru)
  • First Snow Castle (Hatsuyuki)
  • Floating Cloud Castle (Ukigumo)
  • Flying Swallow Castle (Hien)
  • Frost Column Castle (Shimobashira)
  • Fubuki Castle
  • Fuchinobe-jo
  • Fudesaki Castle
  • Fudo-jo (the immovable)
  • Fuhai Castle (undefeated)

F, continued

  • Fujidana-yakata (wisteria trellis residence)
  • Fujinami-jo
  • Fujinmine Castle (wind god peak)
  • Fujishiro Castle
  • Fukae-jo (deep inlet)
  • Fukagawa Castle (deep river)
  • Fukiage-jo (real; second name of Imabari)
  • Fukuchiyama Castle (real; built by Akechi Mitsuhide)
  • Fukuju Castle
  • Fukuoka-jo (real; Kuroda seat, called Maizuru-jo)
  • Fukuro-jo (owl)

F, continued

  • Fukuyama Castle (real; in Bingo)
  • Funabashi Castle
  • Funade-toride (boat launch fort)
  • Funagakure Castle (hidden boats)
  • Funai-jo (real; in Bungo)
  • Funatsu-jo (boat harbor)
  • Fushi Gusuku (Okinawan: star)
  • Fushimi-jo (real; built by Hideyoshi south of Kyoto)
  • Futagoyama-jo (twin mountain)
  • Futamata-jo (real; at a river fork in Totomi)
  • Fuyugomori-toride (wintering fort)
  • Fuyuki-jo

G: 18 names

  • Gagyu-jo (real; Reclining Ox, second name of Oka)
  • Gajumaru Gusuku (banyan)
  • Galloping Horse Castle (Honba)
  • Gamanuma-jo (cattail marsh)
  • Gassan-Toda-jo (real; mountain seat of the Amago)
  • Genbu-jo (black tortoise of the north)
  • Gifu-jo (real; once called Inabayama-jo)
  • Gin no Shiro (silver)
  • Ginnan-jo (real; Ginkgo Castle, second name of Kumamoto)

G, continued

  • Ginsetsu-jo (silver snow)
  • Ginzan Castle
  • Goeku Gusuku (real; ruins in central Okinawa)
  • Gongenyama-jo
  • Green Pine Castle (Aomatsu)
  • Gujo Hachiman Castle (real; hilltop castle in Mino)
  • Gunbai Castle (war fan)
  • Guren-jo (crimson lotus)
  • Gushikawa Gusuku (real; clifftop ruins)

H: 96 names

  • Hachigata Castle (real; Hojo stronghold in Musashi)
  • Hachiman-jo (Hachiman, god of warriors)
  • Hachioji Castle (real; Hojo mountain castle, fell in 1590)
  • Hagane-jo (steel)
  • Hageyama-jo (bare mountain)
  • Hagi-jo (real; Mori seat in Choshu)
  • Hagino-jo
  • Hakubai-jo (white plum blossom)
  • Hakucho-jo (swan)
  • Hakugin-jo (silver)
  • Hakuro-jo (real; another reading of Himeji's heron name)
  • Hakusan-jo
  • Hakutei-jo (real; second name of Inuyama)

H, continued

  • Hakuun-jo (white cloud)
  • Hamamatsu-jo (real; Tokugawa Ieyasu's early base)
  • Hamana Castle
  • Hana no Shiro (flowers)
  • Hanagasumi Castle
  • Hanami-jo (blossom viewing)
  • Hanamidai Castle
  • Hanazono Castle
  • Harima Shikama-jo
  • Harukaze-jo
  • Harusame-jo (spring rain)
  • Hashimoto Castle
  • Hashizume Castle
  • Hasu no Shiro (lotus)

H, continued

  • Hasuike-jo (lotus pond)
  • Hasunuma-jo
  • Hatamoto Castle (beneath the banner)
  • Hatano-jo
  • Hatayama-jo (banner mountain)
  • Hatogaya-jo
  • Hatori Castle
  • Hatsuhi-toride (first sunrise fort)
  • Hatsukari-jo (real; First Goose, second name of Kawagoe)
  • Hatsushimo Castle
  • Hayabusa-jo (falcon)
  • Hayakawa Castle (swift river)
  • Hayama Castle
  • Hayase-jo (swift rapids)

H, continued

  • Hayate Castle
  • Hazuki Castle
  • Hebizuka Castle (snake mound)
  • Heron Marsh Castle (Sagisawa)
  • Hi no Shiro (fire)
  • Hibari-jo (skylark)
  • Hibarino-jo
  • Hida Kiritani-jo
  • Hida Takayama-jo (real; Kanamori seat in Hida)
  • Higashi-no-jo (east)
  • Higata Castle (tidal flat)
  • Higo Kikuchi-jo (real; ancient fort in Higo)
  • Hiji-jo (real; by the sea in Bungo)

H, continued

  • Hikage Castle
  • Hikari no Shiro (light)
  • Hikone-jo (real; original keep near Lake Biwa)
  • Himeji-jo (real; called White Heron Castle)
  • Hinata Castle
  • Hinode-jo
  • Hinodeyama Castle (sunrise mountain)
  • Hinokimine Castle
  • Hinokiyama Castle
  • Hinokuchi Castle
  • Hinomaru Castle (sun disc)
  • Hirado-jo (real; island seat of the Matsura)
  • Hiraiwa Castle
  • Hirokawa Castle (wide river)

H, continued

  • Hirosaki-jo (real; original keep in Aomori)
  • Hirose-jo (wide shallows)
  • Hiroshima-jo (real; called Carp Castle)
  • Hirukawa Castle
  • Hiryu-jo (flying dragon)
  • Hishinuma-jo
  • Hisui-jo (jade)
  • Hitotsuyama-jo
  • Hitoyoshi Castle (real; Sagara seat in Higo)
  • Hizen Ariake Castle
  • Hizen Nagoya-jo (real; Hideyoshi's Korea campaign base)
  • Hokake Castle (raised sail)
  • Homura-jo (flame)
  • Hon-jo (main)

H, continued

  • Hoo-jo (phoenix)
  • Horagai Castle (conch trumpet)
  • Horai Castle
  • Horinouchi-yakata (residence within the moat)
  • Hoshi no Shiro (stars)
  • Hoshikage Castle
  • Hoshimine Castle (star peak)
  • Hoshino-jo
  • Hoshizuna Gusuku (star sand)
  • Hotarugawa Castle (firefly river)
  • Hototogisu-jo (lesser cuckoo)
  • Hozumi Castle
  • Hyakusen Castle (a hundred battles)
  • Hyoga-jo (glacier)

I: 46 names

  • Ichiba Castle
  • Ichibanyari Castle (first spear)
  • Ichijodani-jo (real; Asakura seat in Echizen)
  • Ichiya-jo (real; one-night castle, said of Sunomata)
  • Idonoue Castle
  • Iga Akame Castle
  • Iga Ueno Castle (real; noted for very high stone walls)
  • Iha Gusuku (real; ruins in central Okinawa)
  • Iimoriyama-jo (real; Miyoshi mountain seat in Kawachi)
  • Ikazuchi no Shiro (thunder)
  • Imabari-jo (real; seawater moats)

I, continued

  • Inabayama-jo (real; older name of Gifu)
  • Inarizuka-jo
  • Inazuma Castle
  • Inokuma-jo
  • Inoshishi Ridge Castle (boar ridge)
  • Inuyama-jo (real; original keep above the Kiso River)
  • Ipponsugi-toride (lone cedar fort)
  • Iri Gusuku (Okinawan: west)
  • Irie-jo (inlet)
  • Irifune Castle (incoming ship)
  • Irihi Castle
  • Isawa-jo (real; ancient fort in Mutsu)

I, continued

  • Ishibashi Castle
  • Ishigakiyama Castle (real; Hideyoshi's fort above Odawara)
  • Ishikura Castle
  • Ishimine-jo
  • Isobe-jo
  • Itokazu Gusuku (real; ruins in southern Okinawa)
  • Iwadono-jo (real; on a rock peak in Kai)
  • Iwakage-toride (fort in the lee of a rock)
  • Iwakuni Castle (real; castle above Kintai Bridge)
  • Iwakura-jo (real; in Owari)
  • Iwami Takatsuno-jo

I, continued

  • Iwamura Castle (real; high mountain castle in Mino)
  • Iwatsubame Cliff Castle (house martin cliff)
  • Iwatsuki Castle (real; in Musashi)
  • Iwayama-jo (rock mountain)
  • Iyo Matsuyama-jo (real; original keep in Ehime)
  • Iyo Yuzuki-jo (real; Kono clan seat at Dogo)
  • Izayoi Castle
  • Izena Gusuku (real; ruins on Izena Island)
  • Izumida Castle
  • Izumidono-yakata (spring hall residence)
  • Izumo Yakumo-jo
  • Izushi Castle (real; in Tajima)

J: 5 names

  • Janome Castle (snake's eye ring)
  • Jingamine-jo (camp peak)
  • Jinmaku Castle (camp curtain)
  • Jinrai-jo (sudden thunder)
  • Jizogaoka-jo

K: 164 names

  • Ka-jo (real; Mist Castle, second name of Yamagata)
  • Kabutoyama-jo
  • Kabutozuka Castle (helmet mound)
  • Kachidoki Castle (victory cry)
  • Kaedezaka Castle
  • Kaga Shiramine-jo
  • Kagami-jo
  • Kagamiike-jo (mirror pond)
  • Kagaribi-jo (watch fire)
  • Kage no Shiro (shadow)
  • Kagemori-jo (shadow forest)
  • Kagero Castle
  • Kageyama-jo (shadow mountain)
  • Kagoshima-jo (real; Shimazu seat, called Tsurumaru-jo)

K, continued

  • Kai Komaki-jo
  • Kaizu-jo (real; original name of Matsushiro)
  • Kaji Gusuku (Okinawan: wind)
  • Kajiya Castle
  • Kakegawa Castle (real; castle on the Tokaido)
  • Kakesu-jo (jay)
  • Kakinoki Castle
  • Kakinuma-jo
  • Kakure-jo (hidden)
  • Kakuzan-jo (real; Crane Mountain, second name of Tsuyama)
  • Kamegafuchi-jo (turtle pool)
  • Kameoka-jo (real; second name of Hirado)
  • Kameshima Castle (turtle island)
  • Kameyama-jo (real; name shared by several, one in Ise)
  • Kami-no-jo (upper)

K, continued

  • Kamiya Castle
  • Kamoike-jo (duck pond)
  • Kamome-jo (gull)
  • Kamomeura-jo (gull bay)
  • Kamoshika Crag Castle (serow crag)
  • Kanayama Castle (real; mountain castle in Kozuke)
  • Kanazawa-jo (real; seat of the Maeda of Kaga)
  • Kaneda Castle (real; ancient mountain fort on Tsushima)
  • Kaneishi-jo (real; So clan seat on Tsushima)
  • Kanmuriyama-jo (crown mountain)
  • Kannondo-jo
  • Kannonji Castle (real; Rokkaku mountain castle in Omi)
  • Karasu-jo (real; Crow Castle, second name of Matsumoto)
  • Karasuba Castle (crow's wing)
  • Karasuyama-jo (real; in Shimotsuke)

K, continued

  • Karatsu-jo (real; above Karatsu Bay)
  • Karinuma Castle (wild goose marsh)
  • Kariyado-jo
  • Kasayama-jo
  • Kashimadai-jo
  • Kashiwagi-jo
  • Kashiwayama Castle
  • Kashiyama Castle
  • Kasugayama-jo (real; mountain seat of Uesugi Kenshin)
  • Kasumi-ga-jo (real; Mist Castle, second name of Nihonmatsu)
  • Kasumigatake Castle (haze peak)
  • Katabami Castle (wood sorrel)
  • Katsuragi Castle
  • Katsuren Gusuku (real; seat of Lord Amawari)
  • Katsuyama-jo (real; second name of Kokura)

K, continued

  • Kawabata-yakata (riverside residence)
  • Kawabe-jo (riverside)
  • Kawachi Kusaka Castle
  • Kawagishi-toride (riverbank fort)
  • Kawagoe Castle (real; in Musashi)
  • Kawaguchi-jo (river mouth)
  • Kawarazaki Castle
  • Kawasemi-jo (kingfisher)
  • Kawashima-jo
  • Kayabuki Castle
  • Kayahara-jo
  • Kayano-jo
  • Kazahaya-jo
  • Kazakoshi Pass Castle (wind-crossing pass)
  • Kazamatsuri Castle

K, continued

  • Kazamidake Castle (wind-watching peak)
  • Kaze no Shiro (wind)
  • Kazemachi-jo (waiting for the wind)
  • Kengamine-jo (sword peak)
  • Keyakidaira Castle
  • Ki-no-jo (real; ancient mountain fort in Bitchu)
  • Kichijo Castle
  • Kidoguchi Castle
  • Kii-jo (real; ancient mountain fort in Hizen)
  • Kijin-jo (fierce god)
  • Kijiyama-jo
  • Kikusui-jo
  • Kikyo Castle (bellflower)
  • Kikyogahara-jo
  • Kin no Shiro (gold)

K, continued

  • Kinugasa Castle (real; Miura stronghold in Sagami)
  • Kiri no Shiro (mist)
  • Kirigamine-jo (mist peak)
  • Kiriha Castle (paulownia leaf)
  • Kirin-jo (kirin)
  • Kirisame Castle
  • Kirishima Castle
  • Kishibe Castle (shore)
  • Kishiwada Castle (real; in Izumi)
  • Kita-no-jo (north)
  • Kitaguchi-toride (north approach fort)
  • Kitakaze Castle
  • Kitanosho-jo (real; Shibata Katsuie's seat in Echizen)
  • Kitsuki-jo (real; small, on a sea bluff)
  • Kitsune no Shiro (fox)

K, continued

  • Kitsunebi-jo (fox fire)
  • Kitsunezuka-jo
  • Kiyokawa Castle (clear river)
  • Kiyosu-jo (real; early seat of Oda Nobunaga)
  • Ko-jo (old)
  • Kobai-jo (red plum blossom)
  • Kochi-jo (real; original keep and palace in Tosa)
  • Kofu Castle (real; also called Maizuru-jo)
  • Koganeiro-jo (golden)
  • Kogarashi Castle
  • Koigafuchi-jo (carp pool)
  • Koinuma-jo (carp marsh)
  • Kojima Castle (small island)
  • Kokura-jo (real; in northern Kyushu)
  • Komaba-jo

K, continued

  • Komagata-jo
  • Komagatake-jo (colt peak)
  • Komakiyama-jo (real; Nobunaga's hill base in Owari)
  • Komezawa Castle
  • Komogawa Castle
  • Komorebi Castle
  • Komoro Castle (real; in Shinano)
  • Kongo-jo (adamant)
  • Konki-jo (real; Golden Tortoise, second name of Hikone)
  • Kotobuki Castle
  • Koyama-jo (small mountain)
  • Kozu-jo
  • Kozukata-jo (real; second name of Morioka)
  • Kubota Castle (real; Satake seat in Akita)
  • Kugani Gusuku (Okinawan: gold)

K, continued

  • Kumagatake-jo (bear peak)
  • Kumakura-jo
  • Kumamoto-jo (real; built by Kato Kiyomasa)
  • Kumanodo-jo
  • Kumataka-jo (mountain hawk-eagle)
  • Kumo no Shiro (clouds)
  • Kumoi-jo
  • Kumoiyama Castle
  • Kumonoito Castle (spider's thread)
  • Kumotake-jo (cloud peak)
  • Kumotori Pass Castle
  • Kunohe-jo (real; site of a 1591 rising in the north)
  • Kurayama-jo
  • Kurenai-jo (crimson)
  • Kuribayashi-jo

K, continued

  • Kurisawa Castle
  • Kuriyama Castle (chestnut mountain)
  • Kurogane-jo (black iron)
  • Kuroiwa-jo
  • Kuroiwadake Castle
  • Kurokawa-jo (real; older name of Aizu-Wakamatsu)
  • Kurosaki-jo (black cape)
  • Kurotaka-jo (black hawk)
  • Kuroyama-jo (black mountain)
  • Kurumizawa Castle
  • Kusunoki-jo
  • Kuwabara Castle
  • Kuyo Castle (nine stars)
  • Kuzuhara Castle
  • Kyusho-jo (real; second name of Tottori)

L: 2 names

  • Lone Pine Castle (Ipponmatsu)
  • Long Night Castle (Nagayo)

M: 81 names

  • Maboroshi no Shiro (phantom castle)
  • Maizuru-jo (real; Dancing Crane, second name of Fukuoka)
  • Mamezuka Castle
  • Mannenyama Castle
  • Marishiten-jo (Marishiten, a warriors' deity)
  • Marugame-jo (real; original keep on high stone walls)
  • Marune-toride (real; fort taken before Okehazama)
  • Maruoka-jo (real; original keep in Fukui)
  • Masugawa Castle (trout river)
  • Matsu no Shiro (pines)
  • Matsubara-yakata (pine grove residence)
  • Matsue-jo (real; original keep, called Plover Castle)
  • Matsugasaki Castle (real; second name of Yonezawa)

M, continued

  • Matsukaze-jo
  • Matsumae Castle (real; in southern Hokkaido)
  • Matsumoto-jo (real; called Crow Castle)
  • Matsusaka Castle (real; in Ise)
  • Matsushima Castle (pine island)
  • Matsushiro Castle (real; formerly Kaizu-jo)
  • Matsuura-jo
  • Mayonaka-jo (midnight)
  • Mayuyama-jo
  • Michinobe Castle
  • Midorino-jo
  • Mie Gusuku (real; harbor fort at Naha)
  • Mihara-jo (real; on the sea in Bingo)
  • Miharashi-toride (lookout fort)

M, continued

  • Mikazuki Castle
  • Miki-jo (real; starved out by Hideyoshi in Harima)
  • Minami-no-jo (south)
  • Minamiguchi-toride (south approach fort)
  • Minamikaze Castle
  • Minatoyama Castle (harbor hill)
  • Mino Kaneyama-jo (real; held by the Mori in Mino)
  • Mino Ukai-jo
  • Minoriyama Castle
  • Minowa Castle (real; in Kozuke)
  • Misago-jo (osprey)
  • Mitake-jo
  • Mito-jo (real; seat of the Mito Tokugawa)

M, continued

  • Mitsumine-jo (three peaks)
  • Mitsuuroko Castle (three scales)
  • Miyakodori-jo (oystercatcher)
  • Miyama Castle
  • Miyanomae-jo
  • Mizube Castle (water's edge)
  • Mizukagami Castle
  • Mizuki Castle (real; ancient moated rampart near Dazaifu)
  • Mizumata-jo
  • Mizunoe-jo
  • Mizunokuchi Castle
  • Mizusawa Castle
  • Mochizuki Castle
  • Moegi-jo (spring green)

M, continued

  • Mokko Castle (quince crest)
  • Moko-jo (fierce tiger)
  • Momiji no Shiro (autumn leaves)
  • Momijidani Castle
  • Momijiyama Castle (maple mountain)
  • Momiyama Castle
  • Momozono-jo
  • Monomi-toride (scouting fort)
  • Mononoke-jo (spirit)
  • Moonlit Evening Castle (Yuzukiyo)
  • Morioka Castle (real; Nanbu seat in Mutsu)
  • Moritake-jo (real; second name of Shimabara)
  • Morning Dew Castle (Asatsuyu)

M, continued

  • Mountain Storm Castle (Yama-arashi)
  • Mozu-jo (shrike)
  • Mugikura Castle
  • Mukai-jo (facing)
  • Murasaki-jo (purple)
  • Murasame Castle
  • Musashi Matsuyama-jo (real; on a hill in Musashi)
  • Musashi Susukihara-jo
  • Mushin-jo (no-mind, a clear mind)
  • Mutsu Kitakami-jo
  • Mutsu Tsugaru Castle
  • Myoga Castle (myoga ginger crest)
  • Myojinyama-jo
  • Myokenzan-jo

N: 42 names

  • Nadeshikono Castle
  • Nagahama Castle (real; Hideyoshi's first castle)
  • Nagamine-jo (long ridge)
  • Nagaregawa Castle
  • Nagashino Castle (real; besieged in 1575)
  • Nagato Akama-jo
  • Nagisa Castle (beach where waves break)
  • Nago Gusuku (real; hilltop site in northern Okinawa)
  • Nagori Castle
  • Nagoya-jo (real; known for its golden shachi)
  • Naka-no-jo (middle)
  • Nakagusuku Gusuku (real; World Heritage ruins)
  • Nakanoshima Castle (middle island)
  • Nakasu-jo (sandbar in midstream)

N, continued

  • Nakatsu-jo (real; on the sea in Buzen)
  • Nakijin Gusuku (real; seat of the Hokuzan kings)
  • Nami no Shiro (waves)
  • Namikiri Castle (wave cutting)
  • Namioto-jo (sound of waves)
  • Nanakorobi Castle (seven falls)
  • Nanao Castle (real; mountain castle in Noto)
  • Nanzan Gusuku (real; seat of the Nanzan kings)
  • Naraoka Castle
  • Nashinoki Castle
  • Natsume-jo
  • Night Heron Castle (Goisagi)
  • Night Rain Castle (Yosame)
  • Nigorikawa Castle (muddy river)

N, continued

  • Nihonmatsu Castle (real; called Kasumi-ga-jo)
  • Nijigaoka-jo
  • Nijo-jo (real; Tokugawa residence in Kyoto)
  • Nirayama Castle (real; Hojo castle in Izu)
  • Nireyama-jo (elm mountain)
  • Nishi-no-jo (west)
  • Nishikiori Castle
  • Nobori Castle (battle banner)
  • Nokogiriyama-toride (sawtooth mountain fort)
  • Noroshi-jo (signal fire)
  • Noto Sotoura-jo
  • Nowaki-jo (autumn gale)
  • Nukumizu Castle
  • Numata Castle (real; contested castle in Kozuke)

O: 42 names

  • Obama-jo (real; in Wakasa)
  • Obi Castle (real; in Hyuga)
  • Oboro-jo (hazy)
  • Ochiai-jo (where rivers meet)
  • Odani-jo (real; mountain seat of the Azai)
  • Odawara-jo (real; seat of the later Hojo)
  • Ogaki Castle (real; in Mino)
  • Ogawa-yakata (stream residence)
  • Ogino Castle
  • Oimatsu-jo
  • Oiwa Castle
  • Oiwake Castle
  • Oka Castle (real; cliff-top ruins in Bungo)
  • Okami no Shiro (wolf)

O, continued

  • Okami Ridge Castle (wolf ridge)
  • Okamidani Castle (wolf valley)
  • Okayama-jo (real; black keep, called Crow Castle)
  • Okazaki-jo (real; birthplace of Tokugawa Ieyasu)
  • Okinoshima Castle (offshore island)
  • Oko-jo (real; Chosokabe home in Tosa)
  • Oku-no-jo (inner)
  • Okuyama Castle (deep mountain)
  • Oneue-toride (ridge-top fort)
  • Oni no Shiro (ogre)
  • Onigashira Castle (ogre's head)
  • Oniiwa Castle (ogre rock)
  • Onikiri-jo (demon cutter)
  • Onuma-jo (great marsh)

O, continued

  • Oroshi Castle
  • Osaka-jo (real; built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi)
  • Oshi Castle (real; marsh castle in Musashi)
  • Oshidori-jo (mandarin duck)
  • Otaka-jo (great hawk)
  • Otakeyama Castle
  • Otaki-jo (real; Honda seat in Kazusa)
  • Otori-jo
  • Otsu-jo (real; besieged in 1600 before Sekigahara)
  • Ouchi-yakata (real; Ouchi residence at Yamaguchi)
  • Owari Hoshizaki-jo
  • Oyama-jo (great mountain)
  • Ozato Gusuku (real; ruins in southern Okinawa)
  • Ozu Castle (real; in Iyo)

P: 1 name

  • Pine Wind Castle (Shofu)

R: 21 names

  • Raicho Peak Castle (ptarmigan peak)
  • Raijinyama Castle (thunder god mountain)
  • Raiko-jo (lightning flash)
  • Raimei Castle
  • Rain Shelter Castle (Amayadori)
  • Rainbow Bridge Castle (Nijibashi)
  • Reclining Dragon Castle (Garyu)
  • Red Earth Castle (Akatsuchi)
  • Red Leaf Castle (Koyo)
  • Reimei-jo (daybreak)

R, continued

  • Reppu-jo (violent wind)
  • Ri-jo (real; Carp Castle, second name of Hiroshima)
  • Rindo Castle
  • Rising Dragon Castle (Shoryu)
  • Rokumonsen Castle (six coins)
  • Ruri-jo (lapis blue)
  • Ryu-jo (real; Dragon Castle, second name of Okazaki)
  • Ryubi Castle (dragon's tail)
  • Ryujin-jo (dragon god)
  • Ryuozan-jo (dragon king mountain)
  • Ryuzu Castle (dragon's head)

S: 123 names

  • Saga Castle (real; Nabeshima seat in Hizen)
  • Saginuma Castle (heron marsh)
  • Sakaegaoka Castle
  • Sakaigawa-toride (border river fort)
  • Sakakibara Castle
  • Sakamoto Castle (real; Akechi Mitsuhide's lake castle)
  • Sakashita Castle
  • Sakigake Castle (first into battle)
  • Sakura Castle (real; in Shimosa)
  • Sakuragaoka Castle
  • Sakurayama Castle (cherry mountain)
  • Samidare Castle
  • Sango-jo (coral)

S, continued

  • Sangosho Gusuku (coral reef)
  • Sannomiya-yakata
  • Sanuki Yashima-jo (real; ancient mountain fort in Sanuki)
  • Sarugamori-jo
  • Sarusawa-jo
  • Sasagawa-jo
  • Sasahara Castle
  • Sasamine Castle
  • Sasarindo Castle (bamboo leaves and gentian)
  • Sasayama Castle (real; in Tanba)
  • Sashiki Gusuku (real; home of the first Sho kings)
  • Satoyama Castle
  • Sawayama Castle (real; Ishida Mitsunari's seat)
  • Sazanami-jo (ripples)

S, continued

  • Seiran-jo (mountain haze on a clear day)
  • Seiryu-jo (azure dragon)
  • Sekinoto Castle
  • Sekirei-jo (wagtail)
  • Sekisho-toride (checkpoint fort)
  • Sendai-jo (real; called Aoba-jo, built by Date Masamune)
  • Sengenyama-jo
  • Sengetsu-jo (real; Crescent Moon, second name of Hitoyoshi)
  • Senju Castle
  • Seven Colors Castle (Nanairo)
  • Shibata Castle (real; in Echigo)
  • Shibechari Chashi (real; Ainu stronghold of Shakushain)
  • Shigure Castle
  • Shigureyama Castle

S, continued

  • Shiinoki Castle
  • Shika Ridge Castle (deer ridge)
  • Shikano-jo (real; in Inaba)
  • Shima Ago Castle
  • Shimabara-jo (real; in Hizen)
  • Shimizudani Castle
  • Shimo-no-jo (lower)
  • Shimoda-jo (real; Hojo naval base in Izu)
  • Shimotsuke Nasuno-jo
  • Shimotsuki-jo
  • Shin-jo (new)
  • Shinano Azumino Castle
  • Shinano Kirihara-jo

S, continued

  • Shingari Castle (rear guard)
  • Shingu-jo (real; in Kii)
  • Shinju-jo (pearl)
  • Shinmeigaoka-jo
  • Shinoda-jo
  • Shinonome Castle
  • Shiohama-jo (salt beach)
  • Shiohi-toride (low tide fort)
  • Shiokaze-jo (sea breeze)
  • Shiomi Pass Castle (tide-viewing pass)
  • Shiosaki-jo (tide cape)
  • Shippu-jo (gale)
  • Shirahama-jo (white beach)
  • Shirahata-jo (real; Akamatsu mountain seat in Harima)

S, continued

  • Shirahato-jo (white dove)
  • Shiraiwayama Castle (white rock mountain)
  • Shirakaba Pass Castle (white birch pass)
  • Shirakawa Komine Castle (real; in southern Mutsu)
  • Shiranami-jo (white waves)
  • Shiranui-jo (mysterious lights at sea)
  • Shirasagi-jo (real; White Heron, second name of Himeji)
  • Shiratsuru-jo (white crane)
  • Shiraura-jo
  • Shirayama-jo (white mountain)
  • Shirayuki-jo (white snow)
  • Shirogane-jo
  • Shirota Castle
  • Shirotsuyu Castle

S, continued

  • Shiroyama-jo (castle mountain)
  • Shishi-jo (lion)
  • Shishigatake-jo
  • Shiun-jo (purple cloud)
  • Shiwa-jo (real; ancient fort in Mutsu)
  • Shizugatake-toride (real; fort at the 1583 battle)
  • Shizuki-jo (real; second name of Hagi)
  • Shobuike-jo
  • Shoei Castle
  • Shoryuji-jo (real; southwest of Kyoto)
  • Shuri Gusuku (real; royal seat of the Ryukyu Kingdom)
  • Shusse-jo (real; Castle of Success, nickname of Hamamatsu)
  • Snow Moon Castle (Setsugetsu)

S, continued

  • Sobahara Castle
  • Sodegaura-jo (sleeve bay)
  • Somei Castle
  • Sora no Shiro (sky)
  • Sotoyama Castle
  • Soyokaze Castle
  • Spring Haze Castle (Harugasumi)
  • Star Festival Castle (Tanabata)
  • Suganuma-jo
  • Sugidaira-toride
  • Sugikodachi-toride (cedar grove fort)
  • Sugisawa-jo
  • Sugitani Castle
  • Sugiyama Castle (real; hill castle in Musashi)

S, continued

  • Suigo Castle (water country)
  • Suisen-jo
  • Sumiyaki Castle
  • Summer Grass Castle (Natsukusa)
  • Sumoto-jo (real; on Awaji Island)
  • Sunagawa Castle
  • Sunayama-jo
  • Sunomata Castle (real; legendary one-night castle)
  • Sunpu-jo (real; Ieyasu's retirement seat)
  • Suo Nishiki Castle
  • Suruga Fujimi-jo
  • Suzaku-jo (vermilion bird)
  • Suzuka-jo
  • Suzuriishi Castle

T: 112 names

  • Tachiaoi Castle (hollyhock)
  • Tachibanadai-jo
  • Taga-jo (real; ancient fort and capital of Mutsu)
  • Taihei Castle
  • Tajima Asago Castle
  • Taka no Shiro (hawk)
  • Takada Castle (real; in Echigo)
  • Takamatsu-jo (real; on the sea in Sanuki)
  • Takamine-jo (high peak)
  • Takanoha Castle (hawk feathers)
  • Takanosuyama-jo (hawk's nest mountain)
  • Takanotsume Castle (hawk's talon)
  • Takaoka-jo (real; older name of Hirosaki)
  • Takashima-jo (real; on Lake Suwa)

T, continued

  • Takatenjin-jo (real; contested by Takeda and Tokugawa)
  • Takato Castle (real; ruins known for cherry blossoms)
  • Takatori Castle (real; mountain castle in Yamato)
  • Takatsuka Castle (high mound)
  • Take no Shiro (bamboo)
  • Takebayashi-jo
  • Takeda-jo (real; ruins known as the castle in the sky)
  • Takegaki-yakata (bamboo fence residence)
  • Takenouchi Castle
  • Tamagawa Castle (jewel river)
  • Tamagusuku Gusuku (real; ruins in southern Okinawa)
  • Tamaki-jo
  • Tamamo-jo (real; second name of Takamatsu)
  • Tamanawa-jo (real; Hojo stronghold near Kamakura)

T, continued

  • Tamayura Castle
  • Tanaka-jo (real; round plan, in Suruga)
  • Tanba Kameyama Castle (real; Akechi Mitsuhide's castle)
  • Tango Tanabe-jo (real; besieged in 1600)
  • Tanizoko-toride (valley floor fort)
  • Tasogare Castle
  • Tataraoka Castle
  • Tatebayashi-jo (real; in Kozuke)
  • Tateiwa Castle
  • Tatenashi Castle (no shield needed)
  • Tateyama-jo (real; Satomi seat in Awa)
  • Tatsugamine-jo
  • Tatsumaki Castle (whirlwind)
  • Tatsunofuchi-jo (dragon's pool)

T, continued

  • Tengu-iwa Castle (tengu rock)
  • Tengu-jo (tengu)
  • Tengudake-jo (tengu peak)
  • Tenjinbara-jo
  • Tenka-jo (all under heaven)
  • Tenku no Shiro (real; castle in the sky, said of Takeda-jo)
  • Tenro-jo (heavenly wolf)
  • Tessen-jo (iron fan)
  • Tetsu no Shiro (iron)
  • Tetsuheki-jo (iron wall)
  • Tetsuzan Castle
  • Thousand Cranes Castle (Senbazuru)
  • Thousand Pines Castle (Senbonmatsu)
  • Tida Gusuku (Okinawan: sun)

T, continued

  • Toba-jo (real; Kuki seat on the sea)
  • Tobigamine-jo
  • Tobigasuyama-toride (real; fort raided at Nagashino in 1575)
  • Tochihara Castle
  • Tochiomine Castle
  • Togeguchi Castle
  • Togen-jo (frozen plain)
  • Togeshita-toride (fort below the pass)
  • Tokiwa Castle
  • Tokushima Castle (real; Hachisuka seat in Awa)
  • Tomarizaki-jo
  • Tomigusuku Gusuku (real; ruins south of Naha)
  • Tomoe Castle (comma swirl)
  • Tora no Shiro (tiger)

T, continued

  • Toragamine-jo (tiger peak)
  • Torao Castle (tiger's tail)
  • Torigoe-jo (real; Ikko-ikki stronghold in Kaga)
  • Torii-jo
  • Totomi Hamakaze-jo
  • Tottori Castle (real; besieged by Hideyoshi in 1581)
  • Toyama Castle (real; in Etchu)
  • Tsubakihara-jo
  • Tsubame-jo (swallow)
  • Tsubameoka-jo
  • Tsuchiura Castle (real; in Hitachi)
  • Tsugeno Castle
  • Tsugumi-jo (thrush)
  • Tsujido Castle

T, continued

  • Tsuki no Shiro (moon)
  • Tsuki-ni-hoshi Castle (moon and star)
  • Tsukigase Castle
  • Tsukikage Castle
  • Tsukimi-jo (moon viewing)
  • Tsukimiyama-jo (moon-viewing mountain)
  • Tsukinoura-jo (moon bay)
  • Tsukioka-jo (real; second name of Kaminoyama in Dewa)
  • Tsukishima Castle (moon island)
  • Tsukiyama-yakata (real; second Ouchi residence at Yamaguchi)
  • Tsukiyomi Castle
  • Tsurara Castle
  • Tsuru no Shiro (crane)
  • Tsuruga-jo (real; Crane Castle, alias of Aizu-Wakamatsu)

T, continued

  • Tsurugamine-jo (crane peak)
  • Tsurugaoka-jo (real; Sakai seat in Shonai)
  • Tsurugi-jo
  • Tsurugisaki Castle (sword cape)
  • Tsurumaru-jo (real; second name of Kagoshima)
  • Tsurunuma-jo (crane marsh)
  • Tsurushima-jo (real; Crane Island, second name of Uwajima)
  • Tsuta Castle (ivy)
  • Tsutagawa Castle
  • Tsutsujigasaki-yakata (real; Takeda residence at Kofu)
  • Tsutsujino Castle
  • Tsuwano Castle (real; mountain castle in Iwami)
  • Tsuyama Castle (real; in Mimasaka)
  • Tsuyukusa Castle

U: 31 names

  • U-jo (real; Crow Castle, second name of Okayama)
  • Uchiyama Castle
  • Ueda-jo (real; Sanada seat in Shinano)
  • Uegusuku Gusuku (real; ruins on Kume Island)
  • Ufumui Gusuku (Okinawan: great wooded hill)
  • Uguisu-jo (bush warbler)
  • Uguisudani-jo
  • Uki-shiro (real; floating castle, nickname of Oshi)
  • Ukishima-jo (floating island)
  • Umajirushi Castle (commander's standard)

U, continued

  • Umayado Castle
  • Umebachi Castle (plum blossom crest)
  • Umegamine Castle
  • Umegaoka-jo
  • Umezono Castle
  • Umikaze Gusuku (sea wind)
  • Unagibuchi Castle (eel pool)
  • Urado Castle (real; Chosokabe castle on a Tosa headland)
  • Urasoe Gusuku (real; early seat of Chuzan)
  • Urushibara Castle

U, continued

  • Ushikubiyama-jo
  • Usubeni-jo (pale crimson)
  • Usugiri-jo (thin mist)
  • Usuki-jo (real; island seat of Otomo Sorin)
  • Usurai Castle
  • Utakata Castle
  • Utsunomiya Castle (real; in Shimotsuke)
  • Utsusemi-jo (cast-off cicada shell)
  • Uwajima-jo (real; original keep in Ehime)
  • Uzuki Castle
  • Uzushio-jo (whirling tide)

W: 21 names

  • Wakakusa Castle
  • Wakakusayama Castle (young grass mountain)
  • Wakamatsubara-jo
  • Wakamiya-jo
  • Wakasa Mikata-jo
  • Wakayama-jo (real; seat of the Kii Tokugawa)
  • Wakimizu Castle
  • Wasada Castle
  • Washi no Shiro (eagle)
  • Washigamine-jo (eagle peak)

W, continued

  • Washinosu-jo (eagle's nest)
  • Washizu-toride (real; fort taken before Okehazama)
  • Washizuka Castle (eagle mound)
  • Watanuki Castle
  • Watarigawa-jo
  • Watarise Castle
  • Watashiba-toride (ferry crossing fort)
  • White Chrysanthemum Castle (Shiragiku)
  • White Wall Castle (Shirakabe)
  • Wild Goose Castle (Karigane)
  • Winter Camellia Castle (Kantsubaki)

Y: 56 names

  • Yabunonaka-toride (fort in the thicket)
  • Yachi Castle (wetland)
  • Yachiyo Castle
  • Yaegaki Castle
  • Yaiba Castle (blade)
  • Yajiri Castle (arrowhead)
  • Yakushido-jo
  • Yamabiko Castle (mountain echo)
  • Yamabuki Castle
  • Yamabushi Castle
  • Yamada Gusuku (real; Gosamaru's earlier home)
  • Yamadori-jo (copper pheasant)
  • Yamagara-jo (varied tit)
  • Yamagata Castle (real; Mogami seat in Dewa)

Y, continued

  • Yamanaka Castle (real; Hojo castle with lattice moats)
  • Yamashita-yakata (hillfoot residence)
  • Yamato Koriyama Castle (real; in Yamato)
  • Yanagawa-jo (real; ringed by moats in Chikugo)
  • Yanagi-yakata (willow residence)
  • Yanagise-jo
  • Yanase-jo
  • Yarazamori Gusuku (real; harbor fort at Naha)
  • Yarigasaki-jo
  • Yasha-jo (yaksha)
  • Yatsushiro-jo (real; in Higo)
  • Yoake-jo (first light)
  • Yodo-jo (real; by the rivers south of Kyoto)
  • Yoizuki Castle

Y, continued

  • Yonago-jo (real; in Hoki)
  • Yonezawa Castle (real; Uesugi seat in Dewa)
  • Yoroizaka Castle (armor slope)
  • Yoshida Castle (real; in Mikawa)
  • Yoshida-Koriyama-jo (real; home of Mori Motonari)
  • Yoshizu Castle
  • Young Hawk Castle (Wakataka)
  • Yozakura-jo (cherry blossoms at night)
  • Yudachi Castle
  • Yugasumi-jo (evening haze)
  • Yugiri-jo
  • Yuhi Castle
  • Yuhigaoka Castle (sunset hill)
  • Yuki no Shiro (snow)

Y, continued

  • Yukige Castle
  • Yukiguni-toride (snow country fort)
  • Yukikoshi Pass Castle
  • Yukimi-jo (snow viewing)
  • Yukimine Castle (snow peak)
  • Yukishiro-jo
  • Yume no Shiro (dreams)
  • Yumihari Castle (drawn bow)
  • Yumiyama-jo
  • Yumizuka-jo
  • Yunagi Castle
  • Yunotani Castle
  • Yuyake-toride (sunset glow fort)
  • Yuzuriha Castle

Z: 4 names

  • Zakimi Gusuku (real; built by Gosamaru)
  • Zenshoji-toride (real; Oda fort at Okehazama)
  • Zeze-jo (real; on the lake in Omi)
  • Zuiho Castle