Matsue Castle

At the national treasure, Matsue Castle, located in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, you can enjoy beautiful views that spread 360 degrees, including the cityscape, Lake Shinji, and mountains. From the top floor's Tengu Room, you can overlook the surroundings, and the view is exceptional. Especially during the cherry blossom season in spring, the cherry blossom trees bloom beautifully, and it's worth seeing them together with the view from the castle tower. In addition, the night view is also fantastic, and you can admire the illuminated Matsue Castle. Why not visit Matsue Castle and enjoy the 360-degree view from the castle tower?

One of the highlights of Matsue Castle is the grand stone walls that evoke a sense of history. These walls were constructed during a major renovation that took place during the mid-Edo period, between 1738 and 1743, more than 100 years after the castle was built. The stone walls are an important element of the castle's fortifications, and Matsue Castle's walls are particularly impressive, built from huge stones that create a powerful visual impact. The walls have undergone numerous repairs and restorations since the castle was built, and are still being maintained today, making them an essential part of the castle's historical ambiance.

The Matsue Castle Hori River Boat Tour is a sightseeing boat tour that leisurely circles the approximately 3.7km Hori River surrounding Matsue Castle by small boat. While touring the historic castle town, you can enjoy the quaint townscape, samurai residences, and the old pine trees of the Shiomijinato area. When passing through the 16 bridges, the boat's roof comes down, providing a thrilling experience. This boat tour is the only sightseeing boat tour in the castle town where part of the moat surrounding Matsue Castle, which has a 400-year history, still exists, and you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and nature of the four seasons. The Hori River Boat Tour is definitely one activity you should experience when visiting Matsue City!

The interior of the national treasure, Matsue Castle's castle tower, holds high historical value and retains the atmosphere of the Edo period. The castle tower is three stories tall, and by climbing the stairs, you can reach the observation deck. Inside the castle tower, armor and weapons that were once used to protect the castle town are on display. Each floor also has tatami rooms where you can feel the lifestyle of the time. On the first floor, there is a restored model of the Honmaru Palace and exhibits related to the castle. On the second floor, a shogunate-run office is reproduced, and there are exhibits on the lifestyle of commoners and the methods of repairing stone walls. The third floor has an observation deck that takes advantage of the height of the castle tower, allowing you to overlook the scenery of Matsue City and the surrounding Lake Shinji. However, admission fees are required to enter the castle tower, and it can get crowded with many people, so be careful!

Matsue Castle, a national treasure, is beautifully illuminated at night. During the event, the castle and the quaint surrounding streets are decorated with numerous lanterns and light art, creating a magical atmosphere. In particular, the view of the streets from the Horikawa sightseeing boat offers a fantastic scene of flickering water lanterns. In addition, there is also a night-time climb to the castle tower, where you can enjoy the night view of Matsue Castle, and during the Matsue Castle Festival held throughout the castle town, traditional performing arts such as Kagura are showcased on stage, and there are also plans to enjoy the castle and warriors, as well as art performances. Matsue Castle Mountain Park is also a famous cherry blossom spot, selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots, and during the Matsue Castle Festival, the cherry blossoms are also illuminated at night. The highlight is the night illumination of Matsue Castle and the opportunity to enjoy the Horikawa sightseeing boat and the night-time climb to the castle tower.