During Japan’s Sengoku “Warring States” era (1467-1615), castles were constructed, bolstered and fortified all across the Japanese archipelago, resulting in approximately 5,000 individual keeps.

In 1853, following two centuries of near complete isolation, a fleet of U.S. Navy ships forced Japan to open to trade at the point of a cannon. Yet certain aspects of the country have always remained ...

During Japan’s Sengoku “Warring States” era (1467-1615), castles were constructed, bolstered and fortified all across the Japanese archipelago, resulting in approximately 5,000 individual keeps.

Atop a small mountain on the Higashi Matsuura Peninsula northwest of Karatsu City, the ruins of a castle built more than four centuries ago look out over the Genkai Sea toward Korea. Image: Vicki L ...

Japanese castles are familiar to movie lovers, gamers, and anyone interested in world history. Their iconic designs and impressive appearance are a stark contrast to the castles of Europe. Matsumoto ...

A new Japanese hotel is offering travelers a first-of-its-kind experience – to live like a medieval lord in a real castle keep. Ozu Castle in Ehime prefecture’s Ozu town is the first and only castle ...

A fire engulfed Japan’s historic Shuri Castle early Thursday, reducing the UNESCO World Heritage site to smoldering ruins. Footage seen on public broadcaster NHK showed the bright orange blaze light ...