What are the opening hours and admission fees for Tateyama Castle in Japan?

Tateyama Castle Museum is open from 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM, closed on Mondays and December 29-January 3. Adult admission is 400 yen, students 300 yen, and elementary/junior high students 150 yen. The castle grounds and park area are free to explore year-round.

How do I get to Tateyama Castle from Tokyo by train and bus?

Take the JR Uchibo Line from Tokyo to Tateyama Station (about 2 hours). From Tateyama Station, take the JR bus bound for Shirahama or Alipa and get off at Shiroyama Koen-mae bus stop (5 minutes). The castle is a short walk uphill from the bus stop.

What can visitors see inside Tateyama Castle Museum and exhibits?

Tateyama Castle Museum displays samurai armor, swords, historical artifacts from the Satomi clan, and local maritime history exhibits. The reconstructed keep offers panoramic views of Tateyama Bay and Mount Fuji on clear days. The museum also features traditional Japanese weapons and castle construction techniques.

When is the best time to visit Tateyama Castle for cherry blossoms and festivals?

The best time to visit Tateyama Castle is during cherry blossom season from late March to early April when Shiroyama Park blooms with sakura. The annual Tateyama Cherry Blossom Festival occurs in early April with food stalls and illuminations. Summer and autumn also offer clear Mount Fuji views.

Is Tateyama Castle worth visiting and how long does a visit take?

Tateyama Castle is worth visiting for history enthusiasts and those seeking Mount Fuji views. A typical visit takes 1-2 hours to explore the museum, castle grounds, and Shiroyama Park. The castle offers insights into Satomi clan history and serves as a scenic viewpoint over Tateyama Bay and the Boso Peninsula.

Tateyama Castle

4 (1331)Tourist AttractionMuseumHistorical PlacePoint Of InterestEstablishment

Tateyama Castle stands in Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture, overlooking Tokyo Bay from its hilltop position. The original castle was constructed in 1580 by Satomi Yoshiyori, the powerful daimyo who ruled the Boso Peninsula during the Sengoku period. The Satomi clan controlled the region for generations, and the castle served as their strategic stronghold until the clan was transferred to other domains in the early Edo period. The original structure was dismantled in 1614 following the fall of the Satomi clan, leaving only the castle ruins on the hill.

The current castle tower is a 1982 reconstruction built as a museum, not on the original foundation but nearby on the same hill. While it lacks the authenticity of original castle architecture, the three-story structure houses the Tateyama City Museum, which displays artifacts related to the Satomi clan, local history, and the maritime culture of the Boso Peninsula. The museum provides context for understanding the region's feudal past and its connection to the broader history of the Kanto area.

Visitors ascend to the top floor observation deck for panoramic views across Tateyama Bay and the surrounding coastline. On clear days, Mount Fuji is visible across the water, making it a popular photography spot. The castle grounds feature the remains of the original fortifications, including earthwork defenses and stone foundations that date back to the 16th century. The hillside park surrounding the castle is planted with cherry trees, attracting visitors during spring bloom season, typically early April.

Tateyama Castle is located approximately 10 minutes by bus from JR Tateyama Station on the Uchibo Line, which connects to Tokyo via Chiba. Local buses run regularly from the station to the castle stop. The museum charges an admission fee of 400 yen for adults. The site is also accessible by car, with parking available at the base of the hill. Tateyama is often visited as part of a broader tour of the Boso Peninsula's coastal attractions and as a stopover for travelers heading to the ferry terminal for boats to Oshima Island.

What other travelers are saying about Tateyama Castle

Entering the castle grounds is free. Even the parking is free. You can enjoy walking up the mountain and enjoying the spreading Sakura trees. Your kids can enjoy the Sakura in the playground area. Entering the castle itself, which is now a museum, costs around 300¥ but this fee and the ticket purchased at the castle museum will also serve as your ticket to the Hakkenden Museum. The castle museum's highlights are the woodblock prints and comics from the early 1900s, and the view from the castle's lookout point. At the other museum, the highlights are the hut or a replica of a hut from the 1800s before electricity and before the use of concrete and timber. It is made from bamboo and thatch roofing. It is an ordinary house from a village around Tateyama. They have beautiful brass and clay cooking implements, bamboo baskets and a loom. There is also an array of pictures from around the area before, immediately after, and 100 years after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.

Adelaimar C Arias Jose

Apr 10, 2025

You'll hardly miss this beautiful castle when you visit Tateyama City. It's a rather short hike but you'll be rewarded with a fantastic view of the city and the view of the sea. On a clear day you'll be able to see Mt. Fuji from its observation deck. I'd recommend going here to watch the stunning sunset

Looks great from the outside but was a little disappointed by interior but thankfully the fee you pay here also gives you access to heritage museum close by. Photography is not permitted in the interior.

Beautiful view from the castle ground.

Nice park and the castle is well-maintained. There's no fee to enter the park (but you have to pay if you want to enter the castle itself). There are nice views from the summit and flora are abundant. If you're in Tateyama, it's worth a visit.