12 castles and castle ruins in Kanto
- Admission ranges from free to ¥1,000 for adults, and apart from Odawara Castle, paid sites cost ¥420 or less.
- Odawara Castle allows entry to its keep (10 minutes on foot from Odawara Station); Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace is ¥100.
- Sakura Castle provides stamps inside and outside the building, accessible 24 hours a day.
This article contains advertising (affiliate links).
Castles in the Kanto region range from Odawara Castle, where you can go up into the main keep, to mountain castles where you walk along moats and earthworks. Entry runs from free to ¥1,000 for an adult. The stamps for the Japan 100 Famous Castles and Continued 100 Famous Castles are not always inside the castle, and some sites, such as Minowa Castle, do not keep a stamp at the ruins at all. Check where and when you can stamp before you go.
In short
- To go up into a castle keep: Odawara Castle (adult ¥1,000, 10 minutes on foot from Odawara Station).
- To see a surviving palace building: Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace (¥100 for general admission).
- To walk castle ruins for free: Minowa Castle, Hachioji Castle, Takiyama Castle and Edo Castle (the Imperial Palace East Gardens).
- To stamp without watching the clock: Sakura Castle (stamps inside and outside the building, available 24 hours).
Checked with official pages on November 1, 2026 (Japan time).
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1. Admission, access and 100 Famous Castles stamps at 12 Kanto castles
Many of the castle sites are free to walk, and apart from Odawara Castle the paid ones cost an adult ¥420 or less. Tap a castle name to jump to its section. The number is the castle’s number in the Japan 100 Famous Castles or Continued 100 Famous Castles list.
| Castle | Prefecture | No. | Adult fee | From the station | Stamp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odawara Castle | Kanagawa | 23 | ¥1,000 | 10 min on foot from Odawara | 1st floor of the main keep |
| Kawagoe Castle | Saitama | 19 | ¥100 | 1 min on foot from the bus stop | Honmaru Palace reception |
| Oshi Castle | Saitama | 118 | ¥200 | Not stated | Local history museum |
| Hachigata Castle | Saitama | 18 | ¥200 (history museum) | About 25 min on foot from Yorii | Museum reception, post box |
| Sakura Castle | Chiba | 20 | Not stated | 20 min on foot from Keisei-Sakura | Management center |
| Mito Castle | Ibaraki | 14 | ¥420 (Kodokan) | About 8 min on foot from Mito | None listed |
| Ashikaga Clan Residence | Tochigi | 15 | Not stated | 7 min on foot from Ashikaga | Banna-ji temple office |
| Minowa Castle | Gunma | 16 | Free | 30 min by bus, then walk | Misato branch office and others |
| Kanayama Castle | Gunma | 17 | Free (guidance facility) | 10 min by taxi from Ota | None listed |
| Edo Castle | Tokyo | 21 | Free | About 5 min on foot from Otemachi | Rest houses such as Nanko Kyukeijo |
| Hachioji Castle | Tokyo | 22 | Free | Bus from Takao | Guidance facility |
| Takiyama Castle | Tokyo | 123 | Not stated | Bus, then about 15 min on foot | Nakanomaru Plaza and others |
Stamp locations follow the list of stamp location changes from the Japan Castle Association as of October 8, 2026 (Japanese), and the local governments’ pages. Where the table says “Not stated”, ask the facility before you go.
2. Things to know when choosing a castle in Kanto
You can only stamp while the facility is open, so check its closed days before you go. The Japan Castle Association says you must collect stamps in the official stamp book to be certified, and that you cannot stamp on closed days or outside opening hours (Japan Castle Association stamp rally page, Japanese).
Many castles close on Mondays, and Kawagoe Castle and Oshi Castle also close on the 4th Friday. The Imperial Palace East Gardens close on Mondays and Fridays, so check the days of the week when you plan a weekday trip.
Some castles are within walking distance of a station and some are not. Odawara Castle, Mito Castle (Kodokan) and Edo Castle can be reached on foot from a station. Kanayama Castle is 50 minutes on foot from Ota Station, or 10 minutes by taxi. Hachioji Castle and Minowa Castle need a bus.
In winter, some sites close earlier. The Takiyama tourist parking lot closes at 16:00 from November 1 to the end of February, and last entry to the Imperial Palace East Gardens is 15:30.
3. Odawara Castle (Odawara City, Kanagawa)
Admission to the main keep changed on March 1, 2026: adults ¥1,000, elementary and junior high students ¥300. The same ticket also lets you into the SAMURAI Hall. The NINJA Hall is separate: adults ¥500, elementary and junior high students ¥200 (Odawara Castle fee revision notice, Japanese). Residents of Odawara City pay ¥500 for the main keep.
It is 10 minutes on foot from Odawara Station, and the 100 Famous Castles stamp is on the 1st floor of the main keep (Odawara City FAQ, Japanese).
There is no general parking lot in the castle park, and the castle’s guide directs visitors to nearby paid parking (Odawara Castle access page, Japanese). If you drive, you can look up parking near the castle in advance. Find parking near Odawara Station on Tokupi (ad)
| Name | Odawara Castle |
|---|---|
| Address | 6-1 Jonai, Odawara City, Kanagawa |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:30 (Closed 2nd Wednesday of December, December 31–January 1) |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
4. Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace (Kawagoe City, Saitama)
Admission to the Honmaru Palace is ¥100 for general visitors and free for junior high school students and younger. High school and university students pay ¥50. A combined ticket with the Kawagoe City Museum and others is also available (Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace hours, fees and closed days, Japanese).
It is 1 minute on foot from the “Hakubutsukan-Bijutsukan-mae” stop of the Koedo loop bus or the “Hakubutsukan-mae” stop of the Koedo Meisho Meguri bus. The parking lot, about 20 spaces, is north of the neighboring art museum.
You can stamp at the Honmaru Palace reception, or at the Hatsukari Park rest house on closed days (Japan Castle Association change list, Japanese). The palace is closed on November 16, 24, 27 and 30, 2026.
| Name | Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Palace |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-13-1 Kuruwamachi, Kawagoe City, Saitama |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:30 (Closed Mondays [next day if a holiday], 4th Friday [except holidays], December 29–January 3) |
| Phone | 049-222-5399 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
5. Oshi Castle (Gyoda City, Saitama)
The rebuilt three-story turret (Gosankai Yagura) on the castle site is part of the Gyoda City Local History Museum. Admission is ¥200 for adults, ¥100 for high school and university students, and ¥50 for elementary and junior high students (Gyoda City Local History Museum admission page, Japanese).
You can get the Continued 100 Famous Castles stamp even when the museum is closed. While the museum is open, stamp there. On closed days, and from 16:30 to 17:00, stamp at the Tourist Products Center “Burat Gyoda” (Gyoda City Continued 100 Famous Castles stamp page, Japanese).
| Name | Oshi Castle (Gyoda City Local History Museum) |
|---|---|
| Address | 17-23 Honmaru, Gyoda City, Saitama |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–16:30, last entry 16:00 (Closed Mondays, day after holidays, 4th Friday, New Year holidays) |
| Phone | 048-554-5911 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
6. Hachigata Castle (Yorii Town, Saitama)
Admission to the Hachigata Castle History Museum is ¥200 for general visitors and ¥100 for students. It is free for people aged 70 and over and for junior high school students and younger. You can learn how the castle developed here before you tour the ruins (Hachigata Castle History Museum hours, closed days and fees, Japanese).
The 100 Famous Castles stamp is at the museum reception, available from 9:30 to 16:00 on open days. When the museum is closed, the stamp is kept in the post box to the right of the main entrance at the parking lot (Hachigata Castle History Museum stamp page, Japanese). It is about 25 minutes on foot from Yorii Station, or about 5 minutes on foot from the “Hachigata-jo Rekishikan-mae” stop of the Eagle Bus (access page, Japanese). The parking lot is usable from 9:00 to 17:00 on open days.
| Name | Hachigata Castle (Hachigata Castle History Museum) |
|---|---|
| Address | 2496-2 Hachigata, Yorii Town, Osato District, Saitama |
| Hours / Closed | 9:30–16:30, last entry 16:00 (Closed Mondays [next day if a holiday], day after holidays, New Year holidays) |
| Phone | 048-586-0315 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
7. Sakura Castle (Sakura City, Chiba)
The stamp is inside and outside the Sakura Castle Park management center building, and you can stamp 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The list of changes as of October 2026 says a stamp has also been added at the National Museum of Japanese History.
It is about 20 minutes on foot from Keisei-Sakura Station. By bus, get off at “Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan Iriguchi” or “Kokuritsu Rekishi Minzoku Hakubutsukan-mae” from the south exit and walk about 5 minutes. The park parking is the open field next to Sakura Higashi High School. The city asks visitors not to use the museum’s parking lot (Sakura City Sakura Castle stamp rally page, Japanese).
| Name | Sakura Castle (Sakura Castle Park) |
|---|---|
| Address | Joumachi, Sakura City, Chiba |
| Hours / Closed | Management Center: April–October 9:00–17:00, November–March 9:00–16:30 (Closed January 1–3) |
| Phone | 043-484-0679 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
8. Mito Castle (Mito City, Ibaraki)
Kodokan, on the Mito Castle site, was the domain school of the Mito domain. Admission is ¥420 for adults and ¥210 for elementary and junior high students and people aged 70 and over. It is about 8 minutes on foot from the north exit of JR Mito Station (Mito Tourism Convention Association Kodokan page, Japanese).
When the Kodokan parking lot is full, you can use the paid parking lot of the Ibaraki Prefecture Sannomaru Government Building. Show your parking ticket at the Kodokan ticket booth and parking is free for up to 3 hours from entry.
| Name | Mito Castle (Kodokan) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-6-29 Sannomaru, Mito City, Ibaraki |
| Hours / Closed | October 1–February 19: 9:00–16:30 (Closed December 29–31) |
| Phone | 029-231-4725 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
9. Ashikaga Clan Residence (Ashikaga City, Tochigi)
The Ashikaga Clan Residence site is now the temple Banna-ji, surrounded by earthworks and a moat. The main hall is a National Treasure, and entry to the main hall and the Issaikyo-do hall is by guided tour with advance booking (Ashikaga City Banna-ji page, Japanese).
The 100 Famous Castles stamp is at the amulet counter of the temple office by the main hall (Ashikaga City Tourism Association FAQ, Japanese). It is 7 minutes on foot from JR Ashikaga Station and 10 minutes from Tobu Ashikagashi Station. If you drive, use the Ashikaga City Tourist Parking Lot (Taiheiki-kan).
| Name | Ashikaga Clan Residence (Banna-ji) |
|---|---|
| Address | 2220 Iietomi-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi |
| Phone | 0284-41-2627 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
10. Minowa Castle (Takasaki City, Gunma)
The stamp is not kept at the castle ruins. You stamp at the Misato branch office, the Misato community center, or the Misato library. The weekend and holiday service at the Misato branch office ended on May 31, 2026, so it is now weekdays only. You cannot stamp anywhere from December 29 to January 3 (Takasaki City Minowa Castle Ruins guide, Japanese).
The ruins are free and open to walk around. Take a Gunma Bus from stop 2 at the west exit of JR Takasaki Station for about 30 minutes, then walk 15 to 20 minutes. The free Minowa Castle Ruins parking lot has 78 spaces for regular cars.
| Name | Minowa Castle |
|---|---|
| Address | 582-6 Higashiakiya, Misato-machi, Takasaki City, Gunma (Minowa Castle Ruins parking lot) |
| Hours / Closed | Free to visit (Parking closed 19:00–7:00 next day) |
| Phone | 027-321-1292 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
11. Kanayama Castle (Ota City, Gunma)
The Kanayama Castle Ruins Guidance Facility at the foot of the mountain is free to enter. It is 50 minutes on foot from Ota Station, or 10 minutes by taxi (Ota City Kanayama Castle Ruins Guidance Facility page, Japanese).
Municipal parking is split among sites: 120 spaces at Daiko-in, 30 south of Kinryu-ji, and 11 at the guidance facility, among others.
| Name | Kanayama Castle (Kanayama Castle Ruins Guidance Facility) |
|---|---|
| Address | 40-30 Kanayama-cho, Ota City, Gunma |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:30 (Closed Mondays [next day if a holiday], December 29–January 3) |
| Phone | 0276-25-1067 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
12. Edo Castle (Chiyoda City, Tokyo)
The Imperial Palace East Gardens are part of the former Honmaru, Ninomaru and Sannomaru of Edo Castle. Entry is free and no reservation is needed. The keep foundation and the Hyakunin-bansho guardhouse remain (Imperial Household Agency page on the East Gardens, Japanese). It is about 5 minutes on foot from exit C13a of Otemachi Station to Otemon Gate.
The stamps are not inside the gardens but at the Nanko Rest House, the Wadakura Rest House and the Kitanomaru Rest House. Decide your walking order first.
| Name | Edo Castle (Imperial Palace East Gardens) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo |
| Hours / Closed | November 1–end of February: 9:00–16:00, last entry 15:30 (Closed Mondays and Fridays, December 28–January 3) |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
13. Hachioji Castle (Hachioji City, Tokyo)
Entry is free, and the 100 Famous Castles stamp is inside the guidance facility (Hachioji City FAQ, Japanese). It is not kept in front of the management building.
From bus stop 1 at the north exit of JR Takao Station, take a Nishi Tokyo Bus and get off at “Reien-mae Hachioji-jo-ato Iriguchi”. On weekends and holidays, buses for “Hachioji-jo-ato” also run. The free parking lot next to the guidance facility has 50 spaces for regular cars and is open from 9:00 to 17:00 (Hachioji City guidance facility page, Japanese).
| Name | Hachioji Castle |
|---|---|
| Address | 3-2664-2 Motohachioji-cho, Hachioji City, Tokyo (guidance facility) |
| Hours / Closed | Guidance facility: 9:00–17:00 (Closed December 29–January 3) |
| Phone | 042-663-2800 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
14. Takiyama Castle (Hachioji City, Tokyo)
The castle ruins are inside Tokyo Metropolitan Takiyama Park. The Continued 100 Famous Castles stamp is at three places: Takiyama Castle Nakanomaru Plaza, the Kasumi Citizens’ Center, and the Michi-no-Eki Hachioji Takiyama roadside station (Hachioji City Takiyama Park and Takiyama Castle page, Japanese).
From the north exit of JR Hachioji Station or from Keio-Hachioji Station, take a bus bound for Tobuki or similar to “Takiyama-jo-shi-shita”, then walk about 15 minutes. The Takiyama tourist parking lot is free and open from 8:00 to 18:00, closing at 16:00 from November 1 to the end of February (Takiyama tourist parking page, Japanese).
Facility information checked: November 1, 2026 (Japan time). Fees and hours may change.
| Name | Takiyama Castle |
|---|---|
| Address | Hachioji City, Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Takiyama Park) |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Sources
25 pages we checked
- odawaracastle.com
- odawaracastle.com
- odawaracastle.com
- www.city.odawara.kanagawa.jp
- www.city.kawagoe.saitama.jp
- www.city.kawagoe.saitama.jp
- www.city.gyoda.lg.jp
- www.city.gyoda.lg.jp
- www.town.yorii.saitama.jp
- www.town.yorii.saitama.jp
- www.city.sakura.lg.jp
- mitokoumon.com
- www.city.ashikaga.tochigi.jp
- www.ashikaga-kankou.jp
- www.city.takasaki.gunma.jp
- www.city.ota.gunma.jp
- www.kunaicho.go.jp
- www.city.hachioji.tokyo.jp
- www.city.hachioji.tokyo.jp
- www.city.hachioji.tokyo.jp
- www.city.hachioji.tokyo.jp
- jokaku.jp
- jokaku.jp
- www.town.yorii.saitama.jp
- Japanese version of this page (日本語版)
Checked with official pages on November 1, 2026 (Japan time).
