Matsue Castle
- from JPY 275
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Why go
- The original wooden keep, one of 12 surviving original castle keeps in Japan.
- The 360-degree view from the keep’s top floor.
Opening hours
Today08:30 – 18:30Show all
Don't miss
- Roof-ridge figuresTwo copper-covered wooden figures depict sea creatures with tiger heads.At either end of the keep’s roof ridge.
- Roof-corner figuresThe sculpted faces differ from one another; most have no horns.At the corners of the keep’s roof.
- Triangular gableA triangular gable decorates the exterior.Halfway up the keep.
- Stone-dropping openingsThe keep has 94 covered openings for dropping stones on attackers.In the keep.
- Reconstructed watchtowersThree watchtowers were rebuilt using old photographs and plans.On the southeast side of the second enclosure.
Know before you go
- Open daily from 08:30 to 18:30.
Legends and hidden details
- According to legend, a young woman was buried beneath the castle’s stone walls as a sacrifice.
Tips for your visit
- Enter the keep through the porch on its south side.
Interesting facts7
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The keep is the only surviving main keep in the San’in region.
Matsue Castle - Wikipedia -
The keep has six levels, though five are visible from outside.
Château de Matsue - Wikipedia -
The keep’s stone foundations were assembled without mortar, using stones that were almost unshaped.
Château de Matsue - Wikipedia -
The castle is nicknamed the Plover Castle because its shape evokes a bird spreading its wings.
Château de Matsue - Wikipedia -
The keep’s black exterior panels are coated for protection against fire and weather.
Château de Matsue - Wikipedia -
The roof-ridge figures were intended to protect the keep from fire and evil spirits.
Château de Matsue - Wikipedia -
The keep and its attached turret are designated a national treasure.
Matsue Castle - Wikipedia
History
The Matsudaira clan later ruled from the castle for ten generations.
- 1607–1611Horio Yoshiharu built Matsue Castle, completing it in 1611.
- 1875Most castle buildings were dismantled, but the keep and its attached turret were spared.
How to get there
- On footFrom Matsue Station, head west to the lakeside, then north across Matsue Ohashi Bridge. Continue straight to the castle.
Sources: Matsue Castle - Wikipedia · Matsue - Wikivoyage (see) · 国宝 松江城ホームページ · Burg Matsue - Wikipedia · Château de Matsue - Wikipedia · checked 29 Oct 2026
- Website
- matsue-castle.jp/
- Phone
- 0852214030
Questions and answers
How do I get to Matsue Castle from Matsue Station?
Head west to the lakeside, then north across Matsue Ohashi Bridge. Continue straight to the castle.
Where is the entrance to Matsue Castle’s keep?
Enter the keep through the porch on its south side.
What can I see from Matsue Castle’s keep?
The top floor has a 360-degree view of the surroundings.
Is there a museum at Matsue Castle?
A local history museum is in a white wooden pavilion in the southwest grounds.
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