Takamatsu Castle

Takamatsu Castle would have been really interesting to visit in the Edo Period before much of the ocean front was filled in to make more real estate. At high tide it would have looked like it was literally a floating fortress. If you visit today the only vestige of those times is the Mizunotegomon G

History

Ikoma Chikamasa was stationed in Takamatsu by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1587. He started building the castle in 1588 and it was completed in 1590. Four generations of Ikoma ruled Takamatsu until the 11 year old Takatoshi was re-stationed to the remote Dewa Province in Northeastern Japan in 1639 with greatly reduced lands. This was a punishment for conflicts caused by the Ikoma clan and their retainers. Tokugawa Ieyasu's grandson, Matsudaira Yorishige, replaced Ikoma in Takamatsu. The Matsudaira family continued to rule until the Meiji Period.

In the Edo Period, Takamatsu Castle had a 3 level, 5 story main keep and about 20 yagura. It is uniquely constructed on the waterfront where it draws water from the ocean for it's moats. It is considered one of the 3 great water or waterfront castles. The castle was decomissioned in 1869 and the main keep was torn down in 1884.

There is a strong movement in Takamatsu to rebuild the castle main keep as it was, but they are facing difficulties due to a lack of quality pictures and information about its original structure. At one point there was a reward for old photos or information that would help to rebuild it accurately. Still, the city was proceeding with plans for construction as of my 2016 visit regardless of information obtained.

Field Notes

Takamatsu Castle would have been really interesting to visit in the Edo Period before much of the ocean front was filled in to make more real estate. At high tide it would have looked like it was literally a floating fortress. If you visit today the only vestige of those times is the Mizunotegomon Gate next to the Tsukimi Yagura. At high tide water should come right up to the edge of the gate doors. I did lookup high tide times in advance but I decided to spend my afternoon at Marugame Castle instead which was a good choice because I needed much more time than I expected at Marugame. Otherwise, this is a beautiful castle with a lot more stonework and nicely water filled moats than I had expected. I'll have to visit again once all the construction is done.

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Gallery

Tsukimi Yagura
Mizunote Gomon gate
Tsukimiyagura and Mizunotegomon Gate
Tsukimiyagura and Mizunotegomon Gate
Mizunotegomon
A door of the Mizunotegomon
Ninomaru and Sannnomaru stone walls
Ninomaru and Sannnomaru stone walls
Sannomaru stone walls
Niahimon Entrance
Kuroganemon Gate Stone Walls
Ninomaru stone walls
Covered bridge
Covered bridge and the Uchibori moat
Covered bridge
Honmaru entrance
Chikyuu Yagura stone foundation
Main keep foundation
View of the Honmaru
Main keep foundation
Ninomaru and Uchibori moat
Covered bridge and uchibori moat
Main keep foundation
Main keep foundation, uchibori moat
Main keep foundation, honmaru stone walls and uchibori mot
Stone walls of the Taikomon Gate
Uzumimon
Ushitora Yagura seen through the Taikomon gate
Stone walls of the Sannomaru Bailey
low stone wall
Kitanomaru stone walls
Sannomaru stone walls with mushahashiri
Ren Yagura foundation
Tsukimi Yagura
Shika Yagura foundation
Ushitora Yagura Foundation
Nakabori moat
Asahi Gate
Asahi Gate
Ushitora Yagura
Ushitora Yagura
Ushitora Yagura
Reconstructed Yaguramon, Sakura Gate (by ART)

Castle Profile
English Name	Takamatsu Castle
Japanese Name	高松城
Alternate Names	Tamamo-jo
Founder	Ikoma Chikamasa
Year Founded	1588
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	Top 100 Castles, has Important Cultural Properties, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Artifacts	Kitanomaru Tsukimi Yagura, Kitanomaru Watariyagura, Ushitora Yagura, Kitanomaru Mizute Gomon
Features	gates, turrets, bridges, palace, water moats, stone walls, walls
Visitor Information
Access	Takamatsu Sta. (Yosan Line); 10 min walk
Hours	Open times vary by season. The west gate is open as early as long as 5:30-19:00 in the summer, but 7:00-15:00 in January. Closed Dec 29-31. 200 yen.
Time Required	120 mins
URL	Castle Website
Location	Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture
Coordinates	34.35037, 134.05163
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2006
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2016
Admin Visits	Feb 28, 2016
Friends of JCastle
Malcolm Fairman Photography - Takamatsu Castle

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