Iyo Matsuyama Castle

From Jcastle.info

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

Matsuyama15.jpg

History

The original castle was built here in 1603 by Kato Yoshiakira. It had a large 5 story main keep that was actually moved to Aizu when Kato was transferred there in 1627. Tadachika Gamoh became the new lord of Matsuyama castle and completed construction of the Ninomaru before he died in 1635, leaving no heirs. In 1635, Matsudaira Sadayuki moved into Matsuyama Castle and the Matsudaira family ruled over the area until the end of feudalism. Sadayuki rebuilt the main keep with three stories in 1642. This main keep was struck by lightning and burned down on New Year's day in 1784. The construction of the current main keep was not begun until 1820 and not completed until 1854. From 1926 on, many of the yagura, gates and other structures were destroyed by arson and bombings in WWII. As a relative of the Tokugawa shogun, Matsudaira Sadaaki naturally fought for the Tokugawa in several battles at the Meiji Restoration. Once the emperor regained political power, Sadaaki was a wanted man and considered an enemy of the emperor. In order to avoid attack, he decided to submit and allow Tosa soldiers into the castle while he sought penance and refuge in Joshinji temple in Matsuyama. His sincerity was accepted and thus Sadaaki and Matsuyama Castle were saved from attack. The Matsudaira family eventually gave the castle to the city of Matsuyama in 1923. The city has been working since 1966 to repair the original structures and rebuild those that were destroyed.


Field Notes

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.


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Gallery
  • Main Keep
  • Tatsumi Yagura
  • Kakushimon Tsuzukiyagura
  • South Honmaru stone wall
  • Corridor from the Otemon Gate to the Honmaru
  • Otemon gate ruins
  • Stone wall corridor to the Tsutsui Gate
  • Stone wall of the Tonashimon Gate
  • Otemon Gate stone walls
  • Taiko Yagura
  • Tsutsui Gate
  • Kakushimon Gate
  • Tsutsui Gate
  • Taiko Yagura and wall beyond the Tsutsui Gate
  • Taiko Gate
  • Taiko Gate
  • Taiko Gate
  • Baguyagura and honmaru stone walls
  • Taiko Yagura
  • Honmaru stone walls, the Baguyagura and Taiko Yagura
  • Hondan entrance
  • Ninomon South Yagura
  • Shichikumon Gate East Wall
  • Main keep
  • Ichinomon Gate
  • Ichinomon Gate
  • Ichinomon Masugata Gate
  • Wall of the main keep compound
  • Ninomon and Sannomon
  • Ninomon Gate yagura and walls
  • Sannomon Gate
  • Sannomon Gate
  • Sannomon Gate, yagura and walls
  • Sujigane Gate
  • View into the Ichinomon Gate
  • South Yagura
  • Main Keep, Sujigane Gate, Uchimon gate
  • Sujigane Gate
  • Uchimon Gate
  • Interior of the Uchimon Gate.
  • Nohara Yagura
  • Main keep interior
  • Main keep interior
  • Main keep interior
  • Main keep interior
  • Main keep compound
  • Honmaru bailey
  • View form the main keep
  • Shikirimon Gate and Uchimon Gate
  • Shikirimon Gate.
  • Shikirimon Gate
  • Uchimon Gate
  • Main Keep, Sannnomon, Shikirimon
  • Ninomon South Yagura
  • North courtyard of the Honmaru Bailey
  • South and North Yagura
  • Inui Gate and Inui Yagura
  • Inui Gate and South and North Yagura
  • Inui Yagura
  • Inui Gate
  • Climbing Stone Wall
  • Nohara Yagura and stone walls.
  • Inui Yagura
  • Honmaru stone walls
  • Baguyagura
  • Taiko Yagura
  • Stone walls
  • Otemon Gate stone walls
  • Ninomaru Palace area
  • Stone walled entrance
  • Okumon Gate
  • Ninomaru stone walls
  • Ninomaru and Keyaki Gate stone walls
  • Tsuga Gate stone walls
  • Rice storehouse
  • Ninomaru stone walls and Keyaki Gate
  • Ninomaru map
  • Tamon yagura
  • South Gate
  • Yaguramon Gate to the Ninomaru
  • Walls of the Ninomaru entrance
  • Model of the Ninomaru compound.
  • Walls and gate of the Ninomaru
  • Large well
  • Ninomaru Palace area
  • Looking towards the rice storehouse
  • Eastern climbing stone wall
  • Climbing stone wall
  • Climbing stone wall
  • Climbing stone wall
  • Ninomaru stone walls
  • Map
  • Map
  • Matsuyama index.jpg


Castle Profile
English Name Iyo Matsuyama Castle
Japanese Name 伊予松山城
Founder Kato Yoshiakira
Year Founded 1603
Castle Type Hilltop
Castle Condition Original main keep
Designations Top 100 Castles, has Important Cultural Properties, Top 100 Mountaintop Castles, National Historic Site
Historical Period Edo Period
Main Keep Structure 3 levels, 3 stories
Artifacts Tonashimon Gate, Shikirimon Gate Walls, Sujiganemon Gate East wall, Ichinomon East Wall, Ninomon East Wall, Sannomon East Wall, Shichikumon East Wall, Shichikumon West Wall, tenshu, Ichinomon South Yagura, Ninomon South Yagura, Sannomon South Yagura, Ichinomon, Ninomon, Sannomon Gate, Shikirimon Gate, Shichikumon, Inui Yagura, Nohara Yagura, Kakushimon, Kakushimon Tsuzukiyagura
Features main keep, gates, turrets, samurai homes, water moats, stone walls, walls, castle town
Visitor Information
Access Matsuyama Station (15 minutes by city bus)
Hours 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).
Time Required 3 hrs
URL Castle Website
Location Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture
Coordinates 33.84526, 132.76575
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Admin
Added to Jcastle 2001
Contributor Eric
Admin Year Visited 2001, 2016
Admin Visits October 18, 2001; February 26, 2016


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