Matsuyama Castle in Japan
Matsuyama Castle is the oldest old castle in Japan that still remains today. There are 12 original castles located on the top of the hill in the north of Takahashi city. It is also the only ancient castle among all 12 castles that are located on a high hill about 430 meters and is the highest castle in Japan. Matsuyama Castle was built in 1240 as a fortress.
So it must be on a high ground to make it difficult to attack and even today, it is also difficult to visit the castle. Because it requires a walk up the ramp for at least 20 minutes from the nearest parking lot between the walkway will be both the structure of the old castle and the multi-level defensive towers and along the way there will also be views of the city along the path up the hill.
Inside the tower there is a display of the history and story of Matsuyama Castle which follows the style of a castle on a hilltop that is usually small.
Name: Matsuyama Castle (松山 城, Matsuyama-jo)
Address: 1 Uchisange, Takahashi, Okayama Prefecture 716-0004 Japan
Website: city.takahashi.okayama.jp
Opening hours: 9:00 – 17:30 (closed 16:30 from October to March).
Closed day: open from 28 December to 4 January.
Entrance fee: 300 yen
How to get there:
You can reach the castle by train and then a walk, a tram, or a ropeway. Matsuyama Castle is perched on top of Mt. Katsuyama, and can be reached by ropeway, chairlift, or on foot.
- Access to the area is about a five-minute walk from the Okaido Station tram stop. To get to Okaido Station, take the number five tram line from Matsuyama JR Station.
- From Matsuyama Station, take the number two or three tram line, then the chairlift or ropeway to the top of the mountain.
- Alternatively, you can take the path from Ninomaru Historical Gardens by Matsuyama Shiroyama Park at the base of the mountain for a pleasant 15-minute walk.
By Bus:
- You can sit down at the Matsuyamajo Tozanguchi station, which is about 1 kilometer from the castle.
By Taxi:
- from Takahashi Station, continue to take a taxi at the top parking lot which is about 2 kilometers apart and then walk for about 20 minutes.
By Car:
- drive by yourself, you can also take to the top parking lot as well except for holidays that can only be reached on the ground floor car parking lot (approximately about 1 kilometer away from the castle)
