Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026 · 日本語版: 赤穂城跡の見学ガイド
AKO · HOME OF THE 47 RONIN
Free to explore
The castle of the lord whose death set off the 47 Ronin revenge. Walls, gates and two scenic gardens, 20 minutes on foot from Banshu-Ako Station.
| Admission | FreeHistory museum next door: adults ¥200, children ¥100 |
|---|---|
| Honmaru and Ninomaru garden | 9:00–16:30Last entry 16:00 · closed December 28 – January 4 |
| Gate exhibition room | Weekends and holidays, 10:00–16:00Not in July, August, January or February |
| From JR Banshu-Ako Station | About 20 min on footBy car: about 10 min from Ako IC |
| Parking | Free, about 70 spacesFirst come, first served |
What to see
A walk through the castle
- Otemon Gate — the main gate and corner turret were lost in the early Meiji period and rebuilt in 1955. Notice how the stone walls zigzag along the moat: that bend is defensive design.
- The Honmaru — built over 13 years from 1648, when the castle faced the sea. The lord’s palace floor plan is marked out on the ground at full size.
- The keep base — a stone platform for a keep that was never built. It has steps, so it is harder going than the flat palace area.
- Two gardens — the Honmaru and Ninomaru gardens were designated together as a national Place of Scenic Beauty in 2002. Compare the lord’s pond with the Ninomaru’s boating pond.
Following the 47 Ronin
EAST OF THE CASTLE
Ako City Museum of History
¥200Adults · children ¥100 · 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30) · closed Wednesdays
The castle and town, the 47 Ronin (known locally as the Ako Gishi), salt making and the old water supply. Special exhibitions cost extra.
INSIDE THE GROUNDS
Oishi Shrine
The shrine to the 47 Ronin. The gate of their leader Oishi Kuranosuke’s residence still stands nearby, one of the castle’s surviving Edo-period buildings.
Collecting castle stamps? The Top 100 Castles stamp is under the Honmaru gate and inside the Museum of History. From December 28 to January 4 it moves to the museum entrance.
Getting there
From JR Banshu-Ako Station walk south along Oshiro-dori for about 20 minutes. By car it is about 10 minutes from the Ako interchange of the Sanyo Expressway, or about 25 minutes from JR Aioi Station on the Shinkansen. The free car park has about 70 spaces and cannot be reserved.
Dogs may not be walked in some zones of the castle park, and bicycles must be pushed in others (see the city’s park rules). On festival days the usual roads and parking may not be available.
Plan the rest of your trip
Ako Gishisai 2026: the 47 Ronin festival on December 14Himeji Castle: tickets, English tours and access