What other travelers are saying about Matsuyama Castle
A visit to Matsuyama Castle should be high on your list of priorities when you visit Japan, especially if you will be in the Ehime area.
It is an amazing example of an original and well preserved castle. The other original castles are Himeji, Matsumoto, Hikone, Maruoka, Matsue, Marugame, Kochi, Inuyama, Uwajima, Bitchu-Matsuyama, and Hirosaki.
The fun at Matsuyama begins before you even reach the keep. You have three choices on how to climb up to the main keep. You can hike, catch a cable car or catch the single seat chairlift. I decided to take the chairlift up to the keep, and the cable car on the way down. I saw some people walking up and down the path, but since it was a hot day I decided to pass on the walk. In my opinion, the chairlift is the way to go.
The castle complex at Matsuyama is pretty big. You can see the castle grounds have a lot of cherry blossom trees and you can imagine how beautiful it would be here in the spring.
The inside of the castle is pretty bare but the view from the top is amazing. As is the case with original castles, the stairs here are very steep. If you are on the older side, or have mobility issues, please be very careful.
It is one of only twelve original castles in Japan. Located on Mount Katsuyama, it offers amazing views of Matsuyama City and the Seto Inland Sea. Its wooden structure and defensive features showcase the craftsmanship of the Edo period.
Inside the castle, there are displays of samurai armor, weapons, and historical artifacts. The wooden interior, steep staircases, and old defense systems make it a fascinating place to explore.
You can take a chairlift, a cable car, or hike up Mount Katsuyama to reach the castle. The chairlift and cable car are scenic and fun, while the hiking trail is perfect for those who enjoy walking in nature.
Spring is the best time, as the cherry blossoms around the castle are beautiful. Autumn is also great, with colorful leaves adding to the view. Visiting early in the morning or on weekdays is ideal to avoid crowds.
Remember to leave about an hour or two for a leisurely exploration of the castle. You will need to climb many steps.. Some of them are very steep! Old people should avoid going inside and climbing the main tower.
Buy tickets right before entering the castle.. The ticket booth ladies speak English.
Lots of interesting things to see inside like full ceremonial armor sets that look like they came right off the set of Shogun. And the histories of their rulers are also available for reading.
View from the top is amazing especially on a clear sunny day. Worth the price of entry. Note there is no toilet inside the main castle.
This was a terrific castle visit. Great access to all areas for the public and lots of English signage to explain in good detail what we are looking at. Splendid views of the area from the top of the castle. Loved the chairlift ride up the hill., even though there were no safety bars! Children over six are allowed on the chairlift but there is also a gondola if you have less risk appetite for your children!
Very busy during the weekend. You can access from Okaido, turn into the street by the Starbucks. The entrance to the cable car and chairlifts are along that road. Once, you get off the cable car/chairlift, it's a bit of a slope to get to the flat ground where the castle is. It's definitely not recommended for wheelchair users or baby trolleys because the ground is so uneven. After you pay for the castle entrance tickets, there's still a little bit to climb. The stairs inside the castle are killers to your shins and knees because they are steep and you do need to go up and down many stairs inside the keep. The exhibits are labelled in Japanese and English and the English translations are great and give you a good idea of the history of the Matsuyama fief.
There is a chair lift, ski lift, and a pathway to get to the castle. The castle is rare in that it is up a hill and also rare that is completely the original for the most part. It was not damaged during the war. It was a good specimen of the period when it was made.
The ladder is very difficult to use as the angle is very high and the steps are small. If you have big feet, you may have difficulty.
