100 Famous Castles in Chugoku: Stamp Spots & Route Planner
This guide covers the 13 castles of the Japan Castle Foundation's 100 Famous Castles (Nihon 100 Meijo) in Chugoku, (No. 63–75). Each entry lists the official number, where the castle is and where to get its stamp, so you can plan a stamp-rally route.
No. 63 Tottori Castle (鳥取城) — Tottori
Tottori Castle (鳥取城) is No. 63 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Tottori (鳥取市), Tottori Prefecture. Designations: National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 仁風閣 ※長期休館中; 鳥取市ふるさと物産館（まちパル鳥取）; 鳥取県立博物館; 鳥取市役所本庁舎1階総合窓口（博物館休館時）; 鳥取県庁（県民室）. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 64 Matsue Castle (松江城) — Shimane
Matsue Castle (松江城) is No. 64 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Matsue (松江市), Shimane Prefecture. Designations: National Treasure; original keep survives (genzon tenshu); National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 松江城天守内受付カウンター. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 65 Gassantoda Castle (月山富田城) — Shimane
Gassantoda Castle (月山富田城) is No. 65 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Yasugi (安来市), Shimane Prefecture. Designations: National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 安来市立歴史資料館入口. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 66 Tsuwano Castle (津和野城) — Shimane
Tsuwano Castle (津和野城) is No. 66 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Tsuwano (津和野町), Shimane Prefecture. Designations: National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 津和野城跡観光リフト乗り場（山麓側）. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 67 Tsuyama Castle (津山城) — Okayama
Tsuyama Castle (津山城) is No. 67 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Tsuyama (津山市), Okayama Prefecture. Designations: National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 津山城備中櫓の受付. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 68 Bitchu Matsuyama Castle (備中松山城) — Okayama
Bitchu Matsuyama Castle (備中松山城) is No. 68 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Takahashi (高梁市), Okayama Prefecture. Designations: Important Cultural Property; original keep survives (genzon tenshu); National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 備中松山城券売所（山頂）. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 69 Kino Castle (鬼ノ城) — Okayama
Kino Castle (鬼ノ城) is No. 69 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Sōja (総社市), Okayama Prefecture. Designations: National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 鬼城山ビジターセンター. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 70 Okayama Castle (岡山城) — Okayama
Okayama Castle (岡山城) is No. 70 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Okayama (岡山市), Okayama Prefecture. Designations: Important Cultural Property; National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 岡山城天守閣地下1階受付付近. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 71 Fukuyama Castle (福山城) — Hiroshima
Fukuyama Castle (福山城) is No. 71 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Fukuyama (福山市), Hiroshima Prefecture. Designations: Important Cultural Property; National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 福山城博物館管理事務所外の券売機横; 福山城博物館（天守）内のミュージアムショップ. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 72 Yoshida-Koriyama Castle (郡山城) — Hiroshima
Yoshida-Koriyama Castle (郡山城) is No. 72 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Akitakata (安芸高田市), Hiroshima Prefecture. Designations: National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 安芸高田市歴史民俗博物館; 安芸高田市教育委員会生涯学習課（博物館休館日の平日）. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 73 Hiroshima Castle (広島城) — Hiroshima
Hiroshima Castle (広島城) is No. 73 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Hiroshima (広島市), Hiroshima Prefecture. Designations: National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 天守入口前（屋外の屋根付き通路）. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 74 Iwakuni Castle (岩国城) — Yamaguchi
Iwakuni Castle (岩国城) is No. 74 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Iwakuni (岩国市), Yamaguchi Prefecture. Official stamp location: 岩国城天守 1階受付. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 75 Hagi Castle (萩城) — Yamaguchi
Hagi Castle (萩城) is No. 75 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Hagi (萩市), Yamaguchi Prefecture. Designations: National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 本丸入口料金所. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
Planning the route
Group castles that are on the same rail line or in the same prefecture, and check each stamp location's opening hours the night before. The stamp book is sold at participating castles and bookstores. For how the stamp rally works, see the main guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many of the 100 Famous Castles are in Chugoku?
13 castles, numbered 63–75 on the official list.
Where do I get the stamp?
Each castle has a designated stamp location, listed above (the facility names are in Japanese). Stamp stations usually follow the facility opening hours, so check before you go.
Do I have to visit them in order?
No. The numbers are just the order of the official list, and you can collect the stamps in any order.
Book a Base near Chugoku
Find hotels in castle towns across Chugoku.