Which castle is known as Japan’s “Crow Castle” because of its black exterior?

Matsumoto Castle is known as Japan’s “Crow Castle” because of its black exterior.

Located in Nagano Prefecture, Matsumoto Castle has dark-painted walls and striking white details that create a birdlike silhouette. Its nickname, Karasu-jō, means “Crow Castle,” contrasting with Himeji Castle, whose brilliant white appearance earned it the nickname “White Heron Castle.”

The present keep developed during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, a period when Japanese castle builders combined defensive features with imposing visual design. Matsumoto’s keep is one of Japan’s surviving original castle structures, rather than a modern concrete reconstruction.

The building was designed for defense as well as display. Its interior includes steep stairs, narrow openings for weapons, and varied floor levels. Although the castle is associated with the samurai age, it later survived demolition pressures and is now a major historic landmark.