Matsue Castle is located to the north of Lake Shinji on a small hill, named Kameda-Yama. The inner moat surrounds theKameda-Yama Hill. The main and the second bailey are located inside the inner moat. The third bailey was located to the south of Kameda-Yama Hill surrounded by the outer moats. The inner and the outer moats of Matsue Castle almost entirely remain until now.

If you walk to the north from Lake Shinji, you will see turrets of Matsue Castle on the Kameda-Yama Hill beyond the inner moat.

After passing through the "Ote Kido Mon" Gate, you will be in the second bailey of Matsue Castle. On your right, you will see the site of the "Ote-Mon" Gate, the main gate of Matsue Castle.

Beyond the "Ote-Mon" Gate, you will see the "Ninomaru-Shitanodan", which is the lower level of the second bailey.

In the Edo Age, the rice warehouses were located in the bailey. During the Edo Age, rice was paid as land tax by farmers and rice treated as currency. The reward for retainers was also paid by rice.

The view from the north end of the "Ninomaru-Shitanodan" Bailey was very nice.

If you go back to the site of the "Ote-Mon" Gate, you will look up the "Taiko" Turret on the second bailey, which is ten to fifteen meters high.

The Second Bailey is located to the south of the "Kameda-Yama" Hill. The "Taiko" Turret and "Naka" Turret are located to the north end of the Second Bailey. These turrets were rebuilt in 2001.

You will see the inner moat and the building in Matsue City from "Naka" Turret. The view is also nice.

To the south of the "Naka" Turret, the "Minami" Turret is located. The "Minami" Turret was rebuilt in 2000.

These three rebuilt turrets have the same architecture as of the original turrets built in the Edo Age.
In the Second Bailey, the residence of the castle lord was located.

Stone stairs continue from the Second Bailey to the Main Bailey.

At the entrance of the Main Bailey, the "Tamon" Turret and a gate are located.

After passing through the gate, you will be in the Main Bailey. You will see the Main Castle Tower.

The Main Castle Tower was built in 1611. It is one of twelve originl castle towers built in the Edo Age. It is designated as a national treasure of Japan. Black wooden boarded walls give the impression of sharp and strong. The architecture was mainly used for the castle buildings built before 1600.

As the Main Castle Tower does not have many windows, the inside of the castle tower is dark. Steep stairs continue to the top floor of the Main Castle Tower.

The Main Castle Tower is the symbol of the castle, however the main castle tower of Matsue Castle was used as a warehouse during the Edo Age.

The views from the top floor of the Main Castle Tower re spectacular. If you look to the south, you will see Lake Shinji beyond downtown Matsue.

After visiting the Main Castle Tower, you will glance back it. The view of the Main Castle Tower is very beautiful.

If you walk to the north from the Main Bailey, you will walk down to the "Ninomaru-Shimonodan" Bailey through the "Kita" Gate, which is the back gate of the Main Bailey. Less sightseers visit this area. The atmosphere in the middle age remains in this area.

The "Mizunote" Gate is located before you will walk to the "Ninomaru-Shimonodan" Bailey.

Stone walls at the gate are very impressive.

Matsue Castle is one of five castles in Japan, which are designated as national treasures of Japan. It is worth to see the beautiful Main Castle Tower. Also, visiting the "samurai residences" located to the north of the castle and taking a pleasure boat which goes through moats of Matsue Castle are really recommended.

How to get there
From Tokyo or Osaka, take a "Nozomi" bound for Hakata. Get off a Nozomi at Okayama. Take a Limited Express "Yakumo" bound for Izumoshi and get off at Matsue. Take a bus on the route #12-1 bound for Kawazu. A bus stops at "Kokuho-MatsueJyo Kencho-Mae".

Other Historical Sites near by:
Ruins of Gassan-Tonda Castle
Castle Town, Matsue
Horikawa Pleasure Boat in Matsue
Lake Shinji
Izumo-Taisha Shrine