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Hiroshima 🏯 Castle 📷 6

Miyao Castle

宮尾城

A samurai-era stronghold with stone walls, moats and a view from the keep.

See the photos How to get there Open in Maps
Best season Late March–April (cherry blossom) and November (autumn colour)
Time needed 1–2 hours
Admission Grounds free; keep roughly ¥300–1,000 (≈ $2–6)
Opening hours Typically 9:00–17:00 (extended in summer)

Photos

Photos from Wikimedia Commons — click any image for the photographer and licence.

What this place is

Miyao Castle (宮尾城, miyao-jō) was a fortification built on the island of Itsukushima (also known as Miyajima) during the Sengoku Period in Japan. Although referred to as a Japanese castle, it did not have a donjon (tenshu) or serve as the residence of a land-holding noble, and therefore is probably more within the definition of a hill fort, rather than a true castle. Built by Mōri Motonari, Miyao Castle was part of a greater plan to bait and trap his enemy, Sue Harukata, which culminated in the Battle of Miyajima in 1555. The site of Miyao castle is located in Hamano-cho on the island of Miyajima, Hatsukaichi city, Hiroshima Prefecture.

Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Why it is worth the trip

  • Massive dry-stone walls and moats built without mortar — the engineering is as impressive as the tower above it.
  • A main keep (tenshu) you can climb, with each floor showing armour, weapons and castle-town models.
  • Grounds that double as the town's best park: cherry blossoms in spring, maples in autumn, illumination at night.

What you can do here

  • Climb to the top floor for a 360° view over the castle town and surrounding mountains.
  • Walk the full circuit of the moat and outer baileys — the gates and turrets are free to see from outside.
  • Rent a kimono or samurai costume nearby for photos in front of the keep.
  • Time your visit with a seasonal festival or evening light-up, when the walls are lit from below.

Getting there

We do not have step-by-step transit directions for this spot yet. Open the location on Google Maps for routes from where you are staying.

Area: Hiroshima

Route on Google Maps

Good to know before you go

  • Keep interiors have steep wooden stairs and a shoes-off rule — wear socks and easy-to-remove shoes.
  • Last admission is usually 30 minutes before closing; arrive early on weekends.
  • The park around the castle is normally free even when the keep charges admission.

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