• Travelers can now rent out one of the few remaining castles from Japan’s Edo period for a day and night.
  • Restored in 2004 and located on a hilltop in western Japan’s Ehime prefecture, Ozu Castle looks much the same as it did 400 years ago when it was occupied by feudal lords.
  • The stay includes access to the entire castle after hours, as well as a 17th-century-themed welcome ceremony, breakfast in a historic tea house villa, and a moon-watching sake experience.
  • Rates start at 1 million yen, or $9,400 per day, for two guests with a maximum of six guests.
  • Take a look inside Ozu Castle town, which is part of a new decentralized boutique hotel concept called Nipponia.
  • Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.


Wood-framed castles were once prevalent throughout Japan, but only a handful of original structures remain today.

Foto: Close-up view of the Ozu Castle. Source: Courtesy Value Management Co., Ltd.

Source: Ozu Castle


Now, for the first time ever, visitors can stay in one overnight.

Foto: View of the Ozu Castle at night. Source: Courtesy Value Management Co., Ltd.

Source: Ozu Castle


In July, the four-story Ozu Castle in western Japan's Ehime prefecture began offering "castle stays" starting at 1 million yen, or about $9,400 per night for two guests.

Foto: View of the Ozu Castle. Source: Getty Images

Source: Ozu Castle


Built in 1331, the castle was home to feudal lords for 250 years beginning in the 17th century. Fittingly, the castle stay starts with an Edo period welcome ceremony.

Foto: Reenactors hold flags during a welcome ceremony. Source: Courtesy Value Management Co., Ltd.

Source: Ozu Castle, Jcastle


During the ceremony, a reenactor playing a feudal lord from 1617 rides in on horseback ...

Foto: A reenactor plays a feudal lord during the welcome ceremony. Source: Courtesy Value Management Co., Ltd.

Source: Ozu Castle


... and gunshots, flag waving, and conch-shell blowing follow. Guests will have the option to don warrior costumes themselves.

Foto: Reenactors participate fire guns during the welcome ceremony. Source: Courtesy Value Management Co., Ltd.

Source: Ozu Castle


Over the course of the day, guests can explore the surrounding town, which includes a temple, shrine, and historic samurai residences. They can also book one of two experiences: a theater performance or cormorant fishing demonstration.

Foto: View of Ozu Castle town. Source: Rainbow / Getty Images

Source: Ozu Castle


After public visiting hours, guests will have the castle completely to themselves. Restored in 2004, the structure looks much the same as it did centuries ago, with a few luxury upgrades like an attached bathing area.

Foto: View of sleeping arrangements in Ozu castle. Source: Courtesy Value Management Co., Ltd.

Source: Ozu Castle, JNTO


The castle can accommodate up to six people. For each guest upwards of two people, the experience costs an additional 100,000 yen, or about $942.

Foto: View of sleeping arrangements in Ozu castle. Source: Courtesy Value Management Co., Ltd.

Source: Ozu Castle


Following a full-course dinner, guests can head to one of the castle's turrets to 'contemplate' the moon while sipping sake as warlords once did.

Foto: View of dinner offered during the Ozu castle day. Source: Courtesy Value Management Co., Ltd.

Source: Ozu Castle, CNN


The next morning, a transfer service will take them to Garyu Sanso, a historic villa with a teahouse overlooking the Hiji River, for breakfast.

Foto: View from Garyu Sanso. Source: Courtesy Value Management Co., Ltd.

Source: Ozu Castle


The Ozu Castle stay is just one part of the Nipponia Hotel, a new decentralized boutique hotel concept designed to revitalize the city of Ozu.

Foto: View of the Nipponia Hotel 'front desk' entrance. Source: Kyodo News via Getty Images

Source: Ozu Castle


Eleven other hotel rooms are scattered throughout the town and available for a lower cost than the castle stay, starting at 17,000 yen, or about $160 per night.

Foto: View of a Nipponia Hotel room. Source: Kyodo News via Getty Images

Source: Ozu Castle, Hotels.com


While Nipponia's castle town hotels will be available year-round, the Ozu Castle is limiting its "castle stays" to just 30 groups for 30 nights in its first year.

Foto: View of a Nipponia Hotel room. Source: Kyodo News via Getty Images

Source: Ozu Castle