Matsuyama Castle was located at the top of Mt. Shiroyama, whose altitude is 132 meters in height. You can visit the castle by a gondola from downtown Matsuyama.

After taking a gondola, you will arrive at the site of Ote-Mon Gate, which used to be the main gate of Matsuyama Castle. You can just see the stone walls of the main gate. The original turrets can be seen on the stone walls.

After passing through the Ote-Mon Gate, you will walk on a slope. You will see the "Taiko-Yagura" Turret in front of you.

You will turn to another slope at the foot of the Taiko-Yagura Turret. This slope reaches to Tonashi-Mon Gate. Tonashi-Mon Gate was built in 1635 and is designated as an important property of Japan. Then, you will turn to Tsutsui-Mon Gate.

This zigzag route enables castle solders to prevent their enemies from entering. Invaders to the castle will be easily attacked by castle solders when they make turns.

After passing through the "Tsutsui-Mon" Gate, you will arrive at the main bailey of Matsuyama Castle. You will pass through the "Taiko-Mon" Gate and you will see the Main Castle Tower, as shown in the below picture.

The Main Castle Tower is interconnected with the Small Castle Towers and six Turrets. The original Main Castle Tower was destroyed by fire in 1784 and was rebuilt in 1854. The Main Castle Tower of Matsuyama Castle is one of twelve existing castle towers in Japan and it is the latest existing tower among them.

The entrance to the Main Castle Tower is the "Ichino-Mon" Gate. The gate was surrounded by the Main Castle Tower, the Small Castle Tower and the Ichino-Mon-Minami Turret. You will be overwhelmed with this scenery. You will easily understand how the defense of the castle is firm and it is too difficult for enemies to go to the Main Castle Tower. Many of these castle buildings are designated as important properties of Japan.

You can enter these existing Castle Towers and Turrets. The view of the Main Castle Tower is very impressive.

You will go to the Main Castle Tower through the Small Castle Tower. Inside the castle buildings is very dark, because they have only few windows.

Finally, you will arrive at the Main Castle Tower. The view from the Main Castle Tower is spectacular. Matsuyama Castle is surrounded by buildings and houses in Matsuyama City. In the Edo Age, most of these areas were rice fields. To the west of the castle, you will see the Seto-Inland Sea.

From the Main Castle Tower, you can visit the second bailey located at the foot of Mt. Shiroyama. The "Inui-Mon" Gate is the exit to the second bailey if you walk down the mountain.

If you take a backward glance after passing through the "Inui-Mon" Gate, you will see castle buildings. This view was very impressive.

The sites of buildings were marked on the ground. The Matsuyama Castle was abandoned in 1868, when the Edo Age was ended. The second bailey became the army base and then a National Hospital, after World War II. The excavational investigation of the second bailey started in 1984. The site of the second baily became a historical park in 1992 and is open to the public.

The third bailey was located to the southwest of the second bailey on flat land one level below the second bailey. The third bailey was originally built in 1687.

There used to be a baseball park, a "Keirin" velodrome, a civic center and an art museum in the third bailey. A baseball park and a "Keirin" velodrome were moved from the third bailey in 2010.

The site of the third bailey now also became a civic park. The view of the second bailey and the Main Castle Tower on Mt. Shiroyama tells us how Matsuyama Castle was beautiful and dignified in the Edo Age.

How to get there
From Tokyo, take a Tokaido Shinkansen, "Nozomi" or a "Hikari" for Japan Rail Pass travelers to Okayama. Take a Limited Express "Shiokaze" to Matsuyama. From Matsuyama Station, take a streetcar, Line #5, to Okaido Station.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Ruins of Yuzuki Castle
Dogo Hot Springs
Uchiko Historical District
Ruins of Iyo-Ozu Castle