Dont miss it of you're touring this town. It has some nice things to see and a very quiet relaxed atmosphere.
Little museum, which is worth visiting on the way up to the castle.
Bitchu Matsuyama Castle is built on a mountaintop approximately 430 meters above sea level. However, it was inconvenient for conducting domain affairs, so the lord and his retainers lived at the foot of the mountain, while the mountaintop castle was maintained as a base for emergencies.
In Ishibiya-cho, where the former Orii family residence is located, there is a street lined with old samurai residences, creating a tranquil atmosphere. The earthen walls and dignified gates on both sides evoke the image of the castle town of yesteryear.
The former Orii family residence's main building is built in the shoin-zukuri style, and the courtyard pond, garden stones, and stepping stones have largely been preserved in their original form. A museum is located facing the garden, offering insights into the life and history of the samurai class.
Admission is 500 yen for a combined ticket with the adjacent "Former Hanihara Samurai Residence." Furthermore, a combined ticket including Bitchu Matsuyama Castle (500 yen entrance fee) and the garden of "Raikyu-ji Temple" (400 yen entrance fee) can be purchased for 1,000 yen. If you plan to visit both Bitchu Matsuyama Castle and the samurai residences at its base, this combined ticket is a good deal. I also bought it when I entered Bitchu Matsuyama Castle.
It is currently managed by Niimi City and open to the public.
It is a very large mansion where my elderly father lived until about 40 years ago.
It is spacious and cold, so I can imagine it must have been very difficult to live in.
It was apparently rented out towards the end of its life, and although it is in some disrepair, there do not appear to have been any major renovations, giving it a lived-in feel.
The person giving the tour is very enthusiastic.
More about Takahashi City Samurai Residence from our blog
