

Hello! I'm Sakura Somei, your Castle Maiden guide. In this article, I'd like to introduce our team of Castle Maidens. It's great to meet you! ♪
Sakura Somei
Image 1: Initial Version
Image 2: Season 2 Version
Image 3: Season 2 Casual Wear
Image 4: Chibi Version
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Sakura Somei |
| English Name | Somei Sakura |
| Region | Kanto |
| Age | High School Student |
| Height | 156 cm |
| Likes | Japanese culture and castle architecture |
| Specialty | Top 100 Castles Guide |
| Personality | Meticulous and serious, with an occasionally endearing, spacey side |

As the representative of the Castle Maidens, Sakura possesses a profound love for Japanese culture and traditional castle architecture.
She has a deep interest in the history of castle construction and aesthetic design, and she carefully conveys the charm of these fortresses to everyone who visits.
Although she is usually meticulous and serious, her occasionally innocent and spacey moments make her highly approachable. She is a reliable guide you can trust on your journey.

I truly enjoy feeling the beauty of Japan's changing seasons and history while exploring castles. I hope to share this wonderful journey with all of you! ♪
Natsuki Yamato
Image 1: Initial Version
Image 2: Season 2 Version
Image 3: Season 2 Casual Wear
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Natsuki Yamato |
| English Name | Yamato Natsuki |
| Region | Kyushu |
| Age | High School Student |
| Height | 158 cm |
| Likes | Sports and Hot Springs (Onsen) |
| Specialty | Hot Springs Guide |
| Personality | Highly active and energetic, yet surprisingly knowledgeable |

Natsuki is a dependable presence who can overcome any travel mishaps with a bright smile.
With physical stamina built through sports and a naturally cheerful disposition, she is an action-oriented girl who loves leading everyone on their trips.
She absolutely adores hot springs, living by the motto: "In travel and in life, the one who has the most fun wins!"

If you're unsure, just go for it! Travel always comes with fun memories and a few little mishaps. But let's embrace all of it and enjoy the journey!
Momiji Akizuki
Image 1: Initial Version
Image 2: Season 2 Version
Image 3: Season 2 Casual Wear
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Momiji Akizuki |
| English Name | Akizuki Momiji |
| Region | Kansai |
| Age | High School Student |
| Height | 148 cm |
| Likes | Gourmet food and Art |
| Specialty | Local Gourmet Enthusiast |
| Personality | An innocent, intuitive, and natural-born genius type |

Momiji is a dedicated gourmet hunter who never misses a delicious scent, no matter where she travels.
Although she can be a bit opportunistic and cheeky, her lovable nature makes her a natural mood-maker who constantly brings smiles to everyone around her.
Loving both art and food, she adds wonderful color to the journey with her rich sensibilities and intuitive flashes of inspiration.

You can't travel on an empty stomach! (laughs) Let's make sure to check out not just the castles, but all the local gourmet food and sweets too! ☆
Mashiro Yukimura
Image 1: Initial Version
Image 2: Season 2 Version
Image 3: Season 2 Casual Wear
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Mashiro Yukimura |
| English Name | Yukimura Mashiro |
| Region | Hokkaido |
| Age | High School Student |
| Height | 160 cm |
| Likes | Travel and Music |
| Specialty | Inherited her grandfather's hobby of collecting Top 100 Castles stamps |
| Personality | Gentle, elegant, and refined |

Mashiro is a gentle young lady who envelopes her travel companions with her calm smile and soft, reassuring voice.
Carrying the wishes of her sickly grandfather in her heart, she continues to visit castles across Japan, one step at a time.
Elegant and modest, she is a soothing presence who hides a strong, unyielding will beneath her refined exterior.

No need to rush; just take it one step at a time. I think it's best to only visit what you can without pushing yourself. Above all, enjoying the journey—that is what matters most.
Conclusion

This is Shiki, the site operator. I am a working professional who travels to castles and hot springs all over Japan in my free time. On this site, together with the "Castle Maidens" who act as guides, I aim to deliver real, on-site information in a fun and easy-to-understand way.
I hope the Castle Maidens can convey the charm of Japan's Top 100 Castles and hot springs, and help you with your travels. May your special trips become even more enjoyable and turn into unforgettable memories.
Please note that we plan to continue updating the designs and versions of the Castle Maidens to make them even better. It became a bit long, but thank you so much for reading this far, and we look forward to your continued support.

When I eat local gourmet food, I sometimes wonder, "Did Lord Nobunaga eat this too?" The taste might be different now, but being able to feel the same scenery and scents as people from the past... there's something so romantic about that, right? ☆

Wait, Momiji, you actually think about things like that!? I totally thought you were only in it for the eating! (laughs)

Hehe... that is quite surprising. But having that kind of sensibility is wonderful.

It's great that everyone has their own way of enjoying travel. All of us Castle Maidens will continue to guide you on your journeys with all our hearts. We appreciate your continued support! ♪ The preceding and following castles on the list are No. 22 Hachioji Castle and No. 24 Takeda Shrine. If you have time, be sure to visit them too! ♪

Here is the directory for the Top 100 Castles.
▼ Exploring Castles in Hokkaido & Tohoku
Hokkaido
1. Nemuro Peninsula Chashi Ruins /
2. Goryokaku /
3. Matsumae Castle
Aomori Prefecture
4. Hirosaki Castle /
5. Nejo Castle
Iwate Prefecture
6. Morioka Castle
Miyagi Prefecture
7. Taga Castle /
8. Sendai Castle
Akita Prefecture
9. Kubota Castle
Yamagata Prefecture
10. Yamagata Castle
Fukushima Prefecture
11. Nihonmatsu Castle /
12. Tsuruga Castle /
13. Shirakawa Komine Castle
▼ Exploring Castles in Kanto & Koshinetsu
Ibaraki Prefecture
14. Mito Castle
Tochigi Prefecture
15. Ashikaga Clan Residence (Banna-ji)
Gunma Prefecture
16. Minowa Castle /
17. Kanayama Castle
Saitama Prefecture
18. Hachigata Castle /
19. Kawagoe Castle
Chiba Prefecture
20. Sakura Castle
Tokyo
21. Edo Castle /
22. Hachioji Castle
Kanagawa Prefecture
23. Odawara Castle
Yamanashi Prefecture
24. Takeda Clan Residence /
25. Kofu Castle
Nagano Prefecture
26. Matsushiro Castle /
27. Ueda Castle /
28. Komoro Castle /
29. Matsumoto Castle /
30. Takato Castle
Niigata Prefecture
31. Shibata Castle /
32. Kasugayama Castle
▼ Exploring Castles in Hokuriku & Tokai
Toyama Prefecture
33. Takaoka Castle
Ishikawa Prefecture
34. Nanao Castle /
35. Kanazawa Castle
Fukui Prefecture
36. Maruoka Castle /
37. Ichijodani Castle
Gifu Prefecture
38. Iwamura Castle /
39. Gifu Castle
Shizuoka Prefecture
40. Yamanaka Castle /
41. Sunpu Castle /
42. Kakegawa Castle
Aichi Prefecture
43. Inuyama Castle /
44. Nagoya Castle /
45. Okazaki Castle /
46. Nagashino Castle
Mie Prefecture
47. Iga Ueno Castle /
48. Matsusaka Castle
▼ Exploring Castles in Kansai (Kinki)
Shiga Prefecture
49. Odani Castle /
50. Hikone Castle /
51. Azuchi Castle /
52. Kannonji Castle
Kyoto Prefecture
53. Nijo Castle
Osaka Prefecture
54. Osaka Castle /
55. Chihaya Castle
Hyogo Prefecture
56. Takeda Castle /
57. Sasayama Castle /
58. Akashi Castle /
59. Himeji Castle /
60. Ako Castle
Nara Prefecture
61. Takatori Castle
Wakayama Prefecture
62. Wakayama Castle
▼ Exploring Castles in Chugoku & Shikoku
Tottori Prefecture
63. Tottori Castle
Shimane Prefecture
64. Matsue Castle /
65. Gassantoda Castle /
66. Tsuwano Castle
Okayama Prefecture
67. Tsuyama Castle /
68. Bitchu Matsuyama Castle /
69. Kinojo (Ki Castle) /
70. Okayama Castle
Hiroshima Prefecture
71. Fukuyama Castle /
72. Koriyama Castle /
73. Hiroshima Castle
Yamaguchi Prefecture
74. Iwakuni Castle /
75. Hagi Castle
Tokushima Prefecture
76. Tokushima Castle
Kagawa Prefecture
77. Takamatsu Castle /
78. Marugame Castle
Ehime Prefecture
79. Imabari Castle /
80. Yuzuki Castle
▼ Exploring Castles in Kyushu & Okinawa
Fukuoka Prefecture
85. Fukuoka Castle /
86. Ono Castle
Saga Prefecture
87. Nagoya Castle (Saga) /
88. Yoshinogari Historical Park /
89. Saga Castle
Nagasaki Prefecture
90. Hirado Castle /
91. Shimabara Castle
Kumamoto Prefecture
92. Kumamoto Castle /
93. Hitoyoshi Castle
Oita Prefecture
94. Oita Funai Castle /
95. Oka Castle
Miyazaki Prefecture
96. Obi Castle
Kagoshima Prefecture
97. Kagoshima Castle
Okinawa Prefecture
98. Nakijin Castle /
99. Nakagusuku Castle /
100. Shuri Castle













