Matsuyama Castle

Absolutely stunning castle definitely worth a visit there’s two ways you can come up one is by a rope way and the other is by trekking up quite exhausting but worth it! The view from the castle was really quite something there’s a area before you enter the castle as well which was pretty awesome I’ll let the photos do the taking. And there’s some cherry blossoms blooming at the time of the review.

The chair lift is a must for experience. ¥270 one way and ¥520 both way, can choose either ropeway or chair lift. The castle is huge, a multi level compound with lots of sakura trees for photo spots. At the top are many people and tourist, but still can enjoy. And is free until you decide to enter the castle itself.

Beautiful castle. The line to get tickets for the cable car / chair lift was long. You can either take the cable car or the chair lift. The chair lift line was faster (when there’s a lot of people). If you have children under 6 years old you can’t ride the chair lift. The chair lift is single rider only and does not have a lap bar. You have the option of walking up to the castle as well. If you want to go in the castle you have to pay a separate entrance fee and you will have to take your shoes off. There are lockers for your shoes with a key. You have the option of just wearing your socks or there are “slippers” they provide (no extra fee). The stairs in the castle are steep. For both the chair lift / cable car and castle they accept cash or credit card. Based on the crowds, I’d recommend going later in the afternoon (after 2pm) as there appeared to be no wait when I exited at that time.

Beautiful castle accompanied with increadible view of Matsuyama city in all directions. I think the reason why Matsuyama is named so is because there used to be a pine forest on this hill that can be seen anywhere from the city. Today, the forest is still present but only very little pine is left. I have visited Himeji castle and Matsuyama castle in my trip. I feel that Matsuyama is the better castle for me as I felt more history from this castle compared to Himeji. It definitely felt more crowded at Himeji. The castle ticket(520 yen) is cheaper than Himeji(1000yen) and based on information after visiting the construction appears to be the same as Himeji Castle. In the castle, you can see the different family crests of the lords of the castle, their armors and swords. There are roof tiles and the fish tiger roof decoration exhibitions showing the difference between the period in Japan. There is a Katana lifting area to try out the weight of both long and short sword. On the way top, there is also a VR castle attack experience voiced by popular anime voice actor, 水樹 奈々(Mizuki Nana). Overall, you really get to experience the history of the castle rather than just looking at the hundred years old castle with no understanding. Definitely a must visit in Matsuyama. Visited at 30 Mar 2025.

What? You came to Matsuyama City and didn’t visit Matsuyama Castle? That’s definitely something to regret! This castle not only has a ropeway to save you some time climbing up (though that might not seem like a big deal), but it’s also one of the 12 well-preserved original castle keeps in Japan. This is largely because the island wasn’t bombed by the U.S. during the war. You’ll need to change into slippers when entering the castle. Since it’s so well-preserved, this helps protect the wooden floors—but more importantly, it prevents slipping when going up and down the steep stairs. Exploring the castle requires a lot of energy, but it’s absolutely worth it. Inside, you’ll find fascinating displays of historical artifacts and figures from the era. One interesting experience is trying out the samurai sword. It’s actually much lighter than you’d expect, and there’s an acrylic board where people have repeatedly struck the same spot, carving out a rectangular mark over time. If you visit on a foggy or rainy day, it’s even better—the mist surrounding the castle gives it an ethereal look, almost as if it’s floating in the sky.