Ehime's Mountain Fort: Matsuyama Castle

Ehime's Mountain Fort: Matsuyama Castle

The importance of Matsuyama Castle is reflected in its positioning: The castle can be seen from almost every street around Matsuyama, sat a towering 132 metres above the city. In 1603 the general Kato Yoshiaki set to work on constructing the many buildings that make up Matsuyama Castle which he later passed on to the Matsudaira family. Originally a five-storey building, the castle has gone through several reconstructions, including following a lightning strike in 1784.

Ehime's Mountain Fort: Matsuyama Castle

While the woodland steps that lead up the Mt. Katsuyama hillside to the castle grounds are admittedly steep, they can be scaled in less than 15 minutes from the park below making it just a 30-minute walk from the Dogo Onsen area to the castle. However, the eastern side of the mountain is home to the Matsuyama Castle Ropeway which carries visitors up to the top in just a few minutes with the additional benefit of panoramic views over the surrounding hills and the city below.

Ehime's Mountain Fort: Matsuyama Castle

In spite of the reconstructions Matsuyama Castle has undergone, it was fully reconstructed in wood and plaster in 1854 paying homage to its original style. Behind the castle’s sturdy wooden doors lie 21 different buildings comprising turrets, steep staircases, and courtyards, as well as the castle’s several gates whose impressive structures have gained them recognition as Important Cultural Assets in recent years. For an insight into the life of the feudal lords, armor and weapons are exhibited inside the castle where visitors can try on a helmet or take a closer look at samurai sword.

Ehime's Mountain Fort: Matsuyama Castle

While the castle itself is seen as the main attraction, the 132-metre climb rewards visitors with fantastic views over Matsuyama City and the nature it is enveloped in, including the Seto Inland Sea to the west. With a myriad of viewing points both around the castle grounds and from the top floors of the castle, this is one of the best spots for panoramic views over the northern Ehime region.

Ehime's Mountain Fort: Matsuyama Castle

The Shiroyama Park which lies below the castle is a good starting point for a day out around Matsuyama Castle and is home to the renowned Museum of Art, Ehime. A little further up the hill towards the castle, visitors can pay an extra 200-yen fee for entrance into the Ninomaru Garden which was originally used as the second of three defence circles. Now a garden, the area is filled with trees, flowers, and water features and the space is used to put on Noh performances during summer. Five walking courses take you on a tour of the areas around Matsuyama Castle between 2.5km and 6.1km.

Matsuyama Castle

Ehime Pref. Matsuyamashi Marunouchi

0899214873

[Ropeway] [Normal] 8:30-17:…

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