Japan's oldest wooden castle is a stunner. The striking black-and-white three-turreted keep, completed around 1595, earned its nickname Karasu-jō, the Crow Castle, for its dark silhouette reflected in the surrounding moat. You can climb steep interior steps all the way to the top, passing historical displays on each level, until you emerge into impressive panoramic views of the Japan Alps. Don't miss the recently restored tsukimi yagura, a moon-viewing pavilion that exemplifies the Japanese talent for finding beauty in simple architectural gestures.