Matsuyama Station (15 minutes by city bus)
This is one of the best castles in Japan to visit, second only to Himeji and in some ways it far exceeds Himeji. There are very few places with such a complete design where you understand so much of the layout and what it may have been like in it's prime. Some people who visit will skip the Ninomaru Historical Park but this is one of the most important parts to understanding this castle. The gates, the long yagura, some interior walls and the layout of the palace really help you to imagine what it was like and the role it played in the castle. Additionally, there are some great stone walls and nice views of the main keep. The Climbing Stone Wall (nobori ishigaki) from the Ninomaru to the Honmaru is another must see location at the castle. The technique was developed in the Korean Campaigns and there are very few in Japan much less in such fantastic condition.
The main keep compound is 510 yen, the ropeway is 270 one way, and the Ninomaru Historical Park is 200 yen. Operating hours are 9am-5pm except August (~5:30pm) and December - January (~4:30pm).
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