100 Famous Castles in Koshinetsu & Hokuriku: Stamp Spots & Route Planner
This guide covers the 12 castles of the Japan Castle Foundation's 100 Famous Castles (Nihon 100 Meijo) in Koshinetsu & Hokuriku, (No. 26–37). 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. 26 Matsushiro Castle (松代城) — Nagano
Matsushiro Castle (松代城) is No. 26 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Nagano (長野市), Nagano Prefecture. Designations: National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 真田邸. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 27 Ueda Castle (上田城) — Nagano
Ueda Castle (上田城) is No. 27 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Ueda (上田市), Nagano Prefecture. Designations: National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 上田市立博物館; 上田市観光会館. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 28 Komoro Castle (小諸城) — Nagano
Komoro Castle (小諸城) is No. 28 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Komoro (小諸市), Nagano Prefecture. Designations: Important Cultural Property. Official stamp location: 懐古園事務所. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 29 Matsumoto Castle (松本城) — Nagano
Matsumoto Castle (松本城) is No. 29 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Matsumoto (松本市), Nagano Prefecture. Designations: National Treasure; original keep survives (genzon tenshu); National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 松本市観光情報センター. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 30 Takato Castle (高遠城) — Nagano
Takato Castle (高遠城) is No. 30 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Ina (伊那市), Nagano Prefecture. Designations: National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 伊那市立高遠町歴史博物館. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 31 Shibata Castle (新発田城) — Niigata
Shibata Castle (新発田城) is No. 31 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Shibata (新発田市), Niigata Prefecture. Designations: Important Cultural Property; National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 新発田城表門; 新発田市役所本庁 (12月～3月）; 白壁兵舎広報資料館 (12月～3月）. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 32 Kasugayama Castle (春日山城) — Niigata
Kasugayama Castle (春日山城) is No. 32 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Jōetsu (上越市), Niigata Prefecture. Designations: National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 春日山城跡ものがたり館; 上越市埋蔵文化財センター (12月～2月). Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 33 Takaoka Castle (高岡城) — Toyama
Takaoka Castle (高岡城) is No. 33 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Takaoka (高岡市), Toyama Prefecture. Designations: National Historic Site; one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots. Official stamp location: 高岡市立博物館（鍛冶丸跡）. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 34 Nanao Castle (七尾城) — Ishikawa
Nanao Castle (七尾城) is No. 34 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Nanao (七尾市), Ishikawa Prefecture. Designations: National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 七尾城史資料館; （12月11日 - 3月10日は七尾市役所本庁）. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 35 Kanazawa Castle (金沢城) — Ishikawa
Kanazawa Castle (金沢城) is No. 35 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Kanazawa (金沢市), Ishikawa Prefecture. Designations: Important Cultural Property; National Historic Site. Official stamp location: 二の丸案内所; 石川門入口案内所 (石川門総合案内所); 五十間長屋内. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 36 Maruoka Castle (丸岡城) — Fukui
Maruoka Castle (丸岡城) is No. 36 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Sakai (坂井市), Fukui Prefecture. Designations: Important Cultural Property; original keep survives (genzon tenshu). Official stamp location: 霞ヶ城公園管理事務所（券売所窓口）. Check opening hours before you go, because stamp stations usually follow the facility's hours.
No. 37 Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins (一乗谷城) — Fukui
Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins (一乗谷城) is No. 37 on the Japan Castle Foundation's list of the 100 Famous Castles, located in Fukui (福井市), Fukui Prefecture. Designations: Special National Historic Site. Official stamp location: |; 復原町並入口（南・北）; 一乗谷朝倉氏遺跡博物館. 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 Koshinetsu & Hokuriku?
12 castles, numbered 26–37 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.
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