About Matsuyama Castle
Matsuyama Castle is one of the only 12 castles in Japan that has a Tensokaku built before the Edo period (1603-1867), and was built in 1602 and completed over four and a half centuries. Located in the center of the city, the uppermost floor of the castle looks out over the Matsuyama Plain and the Seto Inland Sea. From Ninomaru to Honmaru, the castle is defended in the Korean style. “All of Shiroyama Park, including Horinouchi, is a national historical site, and 21 other buildings have been designated as nationally important cultural properties. It was ranked No. 2 in Trip Adviser’s “Top Japanese Towns to Visit” in 2014.
Matsuyama Castle is also famous for cherry blossom viewing.
How to get there
From JR Matsuyama Station, take a local train bound for Dogo Onsen (Dogo Hot Spring). 10 minutes, alight at “Daichaido” stop and walk 5 minutes.
From Matsuyama-shi Station, take a local train bound for “Dogo Onsen” or “Circular Route Daitaido”, about 10 minutes, and get off at “Daitaido” and walk 5 minutes.
Matsuyama Castle, 1 Marunouchi, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan
Tips
Matsuyama Castle is located in the center of Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, on a dangerous hill overlooking the Seto Inland Sea and the city of Matsuyama, and was built between 1602 and 1628. Although the castle is on the top of a dangerous hill, it is easily accessible by cable car and lift chairs, and is known as one of Japan’s three great vertical mountain castles, along with Himeji Castle and Wakayama Castle in Kageyama Prefecture, both of which are World Heritage Sites.
It is raining heavily, but there are many tourists. You can climb up the mountain or go up the cable car, and buy a round-trip cable car ticket JY1040 won (including admission to Matsuyama Castle).
It is spectacular. If you climb from the bottom of the mountain to Matsuyama Castle takes about 10 minutes, it is not a long road, but mainly a little steep, climbing up or a little tired. Climbing to the edge of the city can overlook the whole city. The entrance fee to the castle is 510, and if you buy a JR PASS, you will be given a coupon set, which has a discount for Matsuyama Castle.
The original, one of the 12 ancient cities, is well worth a visit.
The castle is built on a hill, and you can take a cable car to the top of the hill. Originally a five-story Tensho, then collapsed due to a natural disaster, it was rebuilt with three stories and is still the best viewpoint in Matsuyama! We recommend the single person cable car, it’s fun!
Matsuyama Castle is worth a visit, the view is very beautiful, the castle overlooks Matsuyama city and can see the Seto Inland Sea.
I went there when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom and it was beautiful.
If you go in the cherry blossom season, it will be perfect!
Recommended to take a single chair up the mountain, even a seat belt is not, only a net below, exciting ah.
The main reason for going to Matsuyama is to soak in the hot springs, Matsuyama Castle was only incidental. But Matsuyama Castle is an unexpected surprise, the scale of the building is very large, very majestic, can see a lot of places. When we were there, the plum blossoms were in full bloom and the view from the square was very beautiful.
It is not difficult to get around Matsuyama Castle. Take the tram to the Oigai station and there are signs, so just follow the others (in the opposite direction of the Oigai shopping street).
