However, symbolic structures like Tenshu were not absolutely nonexistent before Azuchi-jo Castle was built; examples from various places include Seishoken of Dokan OTA which had been in Edo-jo Castle around 1469, Settsu Province Itami-jo Castle (Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture), Yamato Province, Tamonyama-jo Castle built by Hisahide MATSUNAGA in the Eiroku era (1558-1569), and the Yonkai Yagura (four-story turret) in Shigisan-jo Castle.
ただし、天守のような象徴的な建物は安土城以前に全くなかったわけではなく、1469年前後の江戸城にあった太田道灌の静勝軒、摂津国伊丹城（兵庫県伊丹市）、また松永久秀が永禄年間（1558年-1569年）に築いた大和国多聞山城や信貴山城の四階櫓などが各地に造られていた。