While Nara is renowned for its ancient temples and shrines, the Yamato Province has also left behind a rich cultural heritage of castle towns. Unlike typical castle towns such as Kyoto and Kanazawa, Nara's samurai districts present a unique coexistence of temple towns and castle towns, creating a special case in Japanese urban development history.
From the castle-building boom of the Sengoku period to the prosperity of castle towns in the Edo period, Kōriyama and Takatori in Nara Prefecture served as important political and military strongholds. While these castle towns were smaller than Osaka or Nagoya, they preserve purer traces of samurai life. For visitors seeking to understand a microcosm of Japanese feudal society, Nara's castle towns offer a relatively quiet and in-depth exploration environment.
Yamato Kōriyama Castle Town: The Prosperous Memories of the Yanagisawa Family
Yamato Kōriyama City preserves the most complete castle town in Nara Prefecture, located at Kōriyamachō, Yamato Kōriyama City, Nara Prefecture, 〒639-1160. The castle town layout from the Yanagisawa clan period (1724-1871) remains clearly visible today, with the three-layer structure of samurai residences, merchant district, and temple district well preserved. Although the keep has been destroyed, the stone walls are spectacular, particularly the "repurposed stone walls" built using materials from ancient burial mounds. The old commercial street below the castle still retains Edo-period town houses, with the goldfish industry being the most famous—it's the birthplace of goldfish breeding in Japan, and specialty goldfish shops still operate today.
Affected by tensions in China-Japan relations, Nara's tourism industry, which originally relied on Chinese tourists, is transitioning. Deep cultural experiences like castle towns are increasingly favored by European and American visitors. The goldfish industry in Kōryuan Castle Town is a unique selling point—a single high-quality Yamato Kōriyama goldfish can fetch over ¥50,000.
Takatori Castle Town: The Mountain Base Prosperity of the Castle in the Sky
Located in Takatori Town, Takatori County, Nara Prefecture, 〒635-0101, Takatori Castle Town is the gateway town to Takatori Castle, one of Japan's three famous mountain castles. Although Takatori Castle's main keep is located at an elevation of 583 meters, the castle town sits on the flat mountain base, preserving the complete boundary between samurai and townspeople districts. The samurai residences along the Tosa Road are particularly noteworthy, including "Musōkan" (the former Takatori Domain chief retainer's residence), which offers free admission and showcases the lifestyle of samurai families during the Edo period.
Another feature of Takatori Castle Town is its pharmaceutical merchant cultural heritage. During the Edo period, this area was famous nationwide for "Yamato medicine sales," and traditional Chinese herbal medicine shops still operate today. The luxurious town houses of pharmaceutical merchant families line the ancient street, showcasing the prosperity of the merchant district.
Samurai Remnants within Nara City: The Hidden History of Kasugano
Although Nara City itself is a temple-shrine town, traces of samurai culture can still be found around Kasuga Taisha. Near the site of the former Nara Magistrate's Office at Kasuganochō, Nara City, 〒630-8212, the stone foundation bases of samurai residences from the Edo period remain. Now the Kasugano International Plaza, careful observers can still discover the drainage systems and garden layouts unique to samurai residences. Among the traditional building complex around Deer Park, there are also mixed Western-style residences built by samurai families who relocated during the Meiji period.
Imai Town: The Perfect Specimen of a Merchant Castle Town
Imai Town in Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture, 〒634-0812, was a temple-enclosed town during the Sengoku period and later developed into a unique merchant-led castle town. Here there were no samurai, but there was a more powerful merchant self-governance organization than the samurai had. Imai Town preserves over 500 Edo-period buildings, of which 8 have been designated as Important Cultural Properties. The wealthy merchant mansions of the Toyota and Takagi families are grand in scale, showcasing the luxurious style unique to merchant towns. Unlike the samurai-centered structure of other castle towns, Imai Town presents the unique pattern of "merchants as rulers."
Iga Ueno Castle Town: The Dual Charm of Ninja and Samurai
Although technically in Mie Prefecture, the Iga Ueno Castle Town in Uenomarinouchi, Iga City, Mie Prefecture, 〒518-0873 is closely related to the Nara region and is equally worth visiting. The castle town layout designed by Todo Takatora is well preserved, with ninja residences and samurai residences coexisting, creating a unique "ninja castle town" culture. Especially with the current global increase in demand for Japanese cultural soft power, Iga Ueno's ninja-themed tourism attracts over 500,000 visitors annually.
Practical Information
Transportation: From Nara City, take the Kintetsu Kashihara Line to Kōriyama Station (¥240) or transfer at Yamato Yagi Station to the Kintetsu Yoshino Line to Tsutsugan Station (¥420). Imai Town is a 10-minute walk from Yamato Yagi Station.
Admission Fees: Castle ruins parks are free, historical building interior admission is ¥300-500. Imai Town guided tour service is ¥1,000 (reservation required).
Opening Hours: Outdoor ruins are open 24 hours, indoor exhibition facilities are mostly 9:00-17:00, closed on Mondays.
Travel Tips
The cherry blossom season in spring is the best time to visit castle ruins, but be aware that Kōriyama Castle Ruins attract more visitors during the cherry blossom festival (first week of April). Climbing Takatori Castle requires 2-3 hours; comfortable footwear is recommended. Traditional craft experiences in Imai Town (indigo dyeing, washi paper making) require advance reservation, costing ¥2,000-3,000. Due to the decrease in Chinese tourists, all castle towns have launched English guided services for European and American visitors, which has actually enhanced the depth of cultural exchange.
